2010 HCFC Phaseout Issues Remain Unresolved: FMI Energy Speaker

A number of issues remain unresolved pertaining to the 2010 phaseout of HCFC refrigerants, said Sheila Millar, partner, Keller and Heckman, Washington, who spoke yesterday at the Food Marketing Institute’s Energy & Technical Services Conference.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A number of issues remain unresolved pertaining to the 2010 phaseout of HCFC refrigerants, said Sheila Millar, partner, Keller and Heckman, Washington, who spoke yesterday at the Food Marketing Institute’s Energy & Technical Services Conference here. As of Jan. 1, 2010, production and import of HCFC refrigerants will be permitted only for use in equipment manufactured prior to that date. However, said Millar, “problems may arise in defining equipment manufactured before Jan. 1, 2010,” such as when construction delays cause a project to be unfinished by that date. In addition, the EPA has still not issued a rule on allowances for the HCFC restrictions, which means that they may not be forthcoming before 2010. “It is critical to get this [rule] out,” she said.