Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a category of gases used primarily as refrigerants in a variety of commercial and industrial applications. HFCs are among the greenhouse gases (GHGs) identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Ecology (Ecology) as a result of their capacity to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.
In 2019, the Legislature enacted restrictions on the use of HFCs and other ozone-depleting substance (ODS) substitutes in products and equipment. In 2021, the Legislature authorized Ecology to establish a maximum global warming potential (GWP) threshold for ODS substitutes in new stationary air conditioning and stationary refrigeration, and directed Ecology to establish a maximum GWP threshold for new equipment used in ice rinks. The 2021 legislation also directed Ecology to establish a refrigerant management program to address refrigerant emissions from large air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and established other measures to reduce GHG emissions from ODS substitutes.
Ecology may elect to refrain from or cease administering or enforcing a requirement related to the use of HFCs and other ODS substitutes if it determines that supply chain problems or other similar disruptions threaten to impair businesses or consumers in Washington, and that suspending enforcement of a requirement would mitigate the problem.