Trump Administration Delays Two EPA Refrigerant Rules for Grocers

The Trump administration on May 21 revised two Environmental Protection Agency rules that set deadlines for reducing hydrofluorocarbons in refrigeration systems. One change postpones compliance dates under the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule for supermarkets and other commercial users.

The White House stated the delay would increase the supply of refrigerants and produce $900 million in total savings, of which $800 million would come from lower grocery prices. The second action exempts mobile refrigerant equipment used in trucks and rail cars from certain leak-repair requirements in a 2024 EPA program.

5 billion in additional savings from that step.

Foran attended the announcement and said his company "is right in the middle of doing that at the moment," referring to passing savings to customers. FMI, The Food Industry Association, issued a statement supporting the revisions and cited an analysis estimating the original rules could have cost businesses and consumers nearly $144 billion.

University agricultural economists Bernhard Dalheimer and Joseph Balagtas told USA TODAY the changes would not produce measurable near-term reductions in grocery prices. Dalheimer noted the original rules addressed future capital costs rather than expenses already built into current prices.

Balagtas calculated that even if all projected annual savings of $48 million were passed through, the amount would equal about 56 cents per year for a family of four.