Finger Lakes Today

Senator Pam Helming and owners of area grocery stores called on the state today to pause its imminent effective date for new hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant standards, advocating for a more reasonable transition timeline.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reviewing proposed amendments to its HFC phasedown regulations. These amendments include prohibiting new products and equipment containing HFCs beginning January 1, 2025, as well as the sale of certain refrigerants. HFCs are commonly used in refrigeration and HVAC equipment. The regulations aim to meet requirements of the state’s Climate Act adopted in 2019.

Concerns have been raised that these regulations, as currently written, would severely impact the retail food industry, including independent grocers and convenience stores, many located in food deserts, up to the largest supermarkets operating in New York State. Businesses are requesting that the DEC align its rules with federal standards.

Senator Helming stated, “While we take steps to protect the environment, we also need to protect our small businesses, local jobs, and access to food in our communities. The grocers and convenience store operators I’ve spoken with are reasonable – no one is asking for this regulation to be stopped. They are simply asking for it to be consistent with the federal government standards and implemented under a more realistic timeframe. We should be helping businesses grow, not threatening their viability or the livelihoods of the people they employ and the people and communities they serve.”

Deric M. West, owner of Honeoye Falls Marketplace & Mendon Meadows Marketplace employing over 130 people, commented, “The NYS DEC’s proposals regarding the nearly immediate outlaw of commonly used refrigerants in commercial and supermarket settings will lead to the proliferation of food deserts in urban and rural areas, reduce consumer choices, and ignite substantial food inflation throughout NYS. The State DEC must align its future regulations concerning the use of refrigerants with recent pragmatic standards adopted by the State of California, the U.S. Federal Government, and the international Montreal Protocol. These entities have developed specific protocols for hydrofluorocarbon phasedowns that are based on a collaboration of the broad set of stakeholders that will be impacted by these regulations. We are asking the NYS DEC to work with the supermarket industry to bring about comprehensive reform that will lead to an improved quality of life for all New Yorkers while securing and preserving environmental protections for future generations.”

Michael Durant, President & CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York State said, “The Food Industry Alliance of New York State has strong concerns specific to the economic impact the proposed regulations related to refrigerants will have on our industry. From limited supply alternatives to more than $1 million in costs per rack system to retrofit existing stores, this proposal will threaten existing retail food stores' viability and likely lead to more food insecure communities. We thank Senator Helming and many colleagues for continuing to highlight this problematic proposal and strongly urge Governor Hochul and Department of Environmental Conservation to dramatically alter their approach.”

Paul Zuber, Executive Vice President at Business Council of New York State added: “The Business Council joins other business groups asking for reconsideration of this proposed HFC rule which will adversely impact many New York businesses including small ones who already follow numerous safety guidelines at both state and federal levels. New York should safeguard its environment alongside businesses by aligning its rule with U.S EPA standards allowing continued use low-climate impact products long term.”

Retrofitting stores according these new standards incurs millions dollars cost while facing supply chain challenges limiting availability alternative refrigerants equipment meeting proposed standards further constrained trained contractors technicians availability.

Other small businesses attending today’s press conference at Honeoye Falls Marketplace included Joey’s Northside Grocery; Newark; Caledonia Marketplace; Bliss Shurfine Food Mart; Manchester; West’s Shurfine Food Markets; Honeoye Livonia; Busters Market Scottsville Van Ernst Refrigeration East Rochester Mendon Town Supervisor John Moffitt Honeoye Falls Mayor Richard Milne.

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