Hydrofluorocarbon gases: sale or distribution.

Existing law requires, no later than January 1, 2018, the State Air Resources Board to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy to achieve a reduction in statewide emissions of methane by 40%, hydrofluorocarbon gases by 40%, and anthropogenic black carbon by 50% below 2013 levels by 2030. Existing law provides, among other things, that certain federal prohibitions on the use of class I and class II substances shall apply, except as otherwise provided in state statute or regulation. Existing law requires the state board to expeditiously initiate a rulemaking to conform its regulations to any action by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to approve a previously prohibited hydrofluorocarbon blend for foam blowing pursuant to specified federal laws. This bill would prohibit a person from offering for sale or distribution, or otherwise entering into commerce in the state, bulk hydrofluorocarbons or bulk blends containing hydrofluorocarbons that exceed a specified global warming potential limit beginning January 1, 2025, and lower global warming potential limits beginning January 1, 2030, and January 1, 2033. The bill would specify that these provisions do not restrict the state board's authority to establish by regulation maximum allowable global warming potential levels for hydrofluorocarbons entered into commerce in the state below these maximum levels. The bill would require the state board to initiate a rulemaking requiring low and ultra-low global warming potential alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons in a sector unless it is not practicable for entities in the sector to comply with the requirement. The bill would require penalties collected for a violation of these prohibitions to be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund. Because a violation of these prohibitions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2025, hydrofluorocarbons with a global warming potential greater than 750 that are not reclaimed from being used to replenish leaks or otherwise service stationary equipment owned or operated by the state. This bill would require the state board to post an assessment on its internet website by January 1, 2025, specifying how to transition the state's economy, by sector, away from hydrofluorocarbons and to ultra-low or no global warming potential alternatives no later than 2035, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.