Washington State, which set GWP limits for HFC refrigerants in HVAC&R equipment last year, followed up with new regulations on HFCs in legislation signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on May 19.
The new regulations, covered in HB 1462, promote transitioning to low-GWP or natural refrigerants and furthering the use of reclaimed instead of virgin HFCs. It includes prohibitions on the sale of newly produced refrigerants with a GWP that exceeds 1,500, beginning January 1, 2030, and refrigerants with a GWP that exceeds 750, beginning January 1, 2033.
In addition, HB 1462 calls for the creation of a refrigerant transition task force comprised of approximately 16 members. The task force will study opportunities for and barriers to adoption of climate-friendly refrigerants and ways to enhance refrigerant recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction.
The bill also aims to “enhance industry compliance and stakeholder collaboration through education, training and financial incentives, ensuring alignment with national and international climate objectives.”
The new law was developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders including environmental organizations and industry associations representing air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating manufacturers, distributors, contractors, reclaimers, and end users, including supermarkets and HVAC contractors.
“This law protects the climate along with our economic security,” said Representative Davina Duerr (Democrat-Bothell), author of the legislation, in a release from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “With this reform, we now have a fiscally responsible way to adapt to the global phasedown. The new law also provides market certainty, so people know what to do. I’m grateful for all the stakeholders who worked with me to get this law right.”
Backing up AIM Act
The bill complements the U.S. AIM Act, federal legislation that reduced HFC refrigerant production 40% below baseline in 2024, with plans to cut it by 70% percent in 2029, and 85% in 2036. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to “reconsider” the Technology Transitions part of the AIM Act, while Congress has moved to rescind the refrigerant management piece of the act. Thus state regulations have become needed to maintain HFC-reduction efforts.
“Because of Representative Duerr’s vision, Washington State continues to lead the way in securing a future where HFC refrigerants no longer heat up the planet” said Richie Kaur, Senior Superpollutant Reduction Advocate at NRDC.
“Passing this bill helps keep Washington in the lead as climate crisis response falls to the states,” added Representative Beth Doglio (Democrat-Olympia), chair of the House environment committee in the NRDC release.
HB 1462 does not require end users to buy new equipment or force premature retirement of existing heating or cooling systems, noted the NRDC. Instead, the bill increases supplies of recovered and reclaimed HFCs to offset the dwindling supply of new HFCs.
In addition, HB 1462 signals that the state needs to transition to ultra-low climate impact alternatives – in effect, natural refrigerants – where possible by 2035. To that end, it calls for experts to guide the state in future rulemaking “to ensure heating and cooling systems of the future are climate friendly and maintainable far into the future when HFCs have become obsolete,” said the NRDC.
“We supported HB 1462 for business reasons,” said Mike Wenrick, Director of Purpose for PCC Community Markets, a chain of 15 supermarkets in Washington. “PCC Community markets has transitioned to carbon dioxide [R744]-based refrigeration in six of our grocery stores. Our power bills have gone down, and our climate footprint has gone down too.”
Multi-member task force
The task force, which must be formed by July 1, 2026, will include representatives from the private sector or private sector trade associations affiliated with the HVAC&R industry, environmental nonprofit organizations, the state building code council, end users and others.
The task force will assess “the opportunities, barriers, and recommendations for transitioning to refrigerants with low global warming potential and ultra-low global warming potential by 2035, accounting for distinctions among different types of equipment and appliances for hydrofluorocarbon-using sectors and subsectors and the timelines needed for each sector or subsector to complete such a transition.”
The state will then adopt rules, informed by the work of the task force, “to require low global warming potential or ultra-low global warming potential alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons in a sector unless it is not practicable for 3entities in the sector to comply with the requirement.”
Last year, Washington State banned the sale of refrigerants with a GWP of more than 150 for new and retrofit commercial and industrial refrigeration as well as refrigerants with a GWP of more than 750 for new and retrofit industrial chillers, air conditioners, heat pumps and dehumidifiers, with effective dates in 2025 and 2029.
“We supported HB 1462 for business reasons.”
Mike Wenrick, Director of Purpose for PCC Community Markets
