A federal court struck down a key piece of the Obama administration’s climate agenda on Tuesday by saying the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the authority to ban the use of certain chemicals used in air conditioners blamed for exacerbating global warming.
The EPA enacted the rule in question in 2015, responding to research showing hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, contribute to climate change.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2-1 decision said EPA does not have the authority to enact a 2015 rule ending the use of hydrofluorocarbons commonly found in spray cans, automobile air conditioners, and refrigerators. The three-judge panel said that because HFCs are not ozone-depleting substances, the EPA could not use a section of the Clean Air Act targeting those chemicals to ban HFCs.
“Indeed, before 2015, EPA itself maintained that Section 612 did not grant authority to require replacement of non-ozone-depleting substances such as HFCs,” the court wrote.
“EPA’s novel reading of Section 612 is inconsistent with the statute as written. Section 612 does not require (or give EPA authority to require) manufacturers to replace non-ozone-depleting substances such as HFCs,” said the opinion, written by Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
The Obama administration issued the regulatory changes to correspond with the 1987 Montreal Protocol that sought to stop the depletion of the ozone layer by phasing out another chemical found in aerosols. The 2015 update was part of former President Barack Obama’s climate change agenda due to the impact of HFCs on the climate.
“This ruling has significant implications for our industry and we will be monitoring the EPA’s response closely,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, whose industry is directly affected by the regulations. “Despite the court’s decision, our industry remains committed to ratification and implementation of the Kigali Amendment to globally phase down the use of HFC refrigerants.”
Under the Kigali agreement, the U.S. and other countries agreed to phase out HFCs and use alternative chemicals over a number of years. The agreement was seen as an adjunct to the Paris climate change agreement.
Read more at Washington Examiner
Another win for Freedom and Small Buisness and a blow to the Eco-Nazis and Obama the Worst
EPA overreach slammed again . Every time they lose a court case fire the 5000 people they hired to impose their criminal behaviour .
The EPA was taken over by self dealing lobbiest’s .
Clipping around the edges is not going to do it . Like a bad weed
take out the roots or next spring it will be back worse than ever .