The AIM Act is good for the planet
Attorneys General of the States of New York, California, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia
"Passage of the Act will ensure the U.S. joins the worldwide phase down of HFCs, a transition that offers enormous climate benefits by helping the effort to avoid an increase of up to one-half degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century," the Attorneys General said in joint testimony.
The Nature Conservancy
"This planned phase down provides certainty for business and supports the growth of the next generation of refrigerant technologies while addressing the emissions of a powerful greenhouse gas,” testified Jason Albritton, Director of Climate and Energy Policy, U.S. Government Relations at The Nature Conservancy. “The legislation is an important step that can be taken now to improve the competitiveness of American businesses while combatting climate change."
U.S. Climate Alliance
"By creating national standards, the bill will ensure all communities have access to higher quality products, and that we are giving U.S. industry the best opportunity to innovate and lead the global transition to HFC alternatives. The bill has received strong support from Republicans and Democrats, industry and environmental groups alike. The U.S. Climate Alliance adds their voice to the growing chorus calling for swift passage of the bill as written,” testified Julie Cerqueira, Executive Director of the U.S. Climate Alliance.
Earthjustice, Environmental Investigation Agency, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club
"HFCs were useful as one of the replacements for CFCs, as they don’t harm the ozone layer and have lower heat-trapping power, but as worldwide HFC use grows we could be facing another 0.5 degree centigrade of global warming from HFCs alone. In a world now on track for at least a 3°C temperature rise and searching for ways to hold warming to 1.5 or even 2 degrees, we cannot afford to add another half degree of warming on top of everything else the groups wrote in joint testimony.
Natural Resources Defense Council
“The AIM Act offers Congress an extraordinary chance for bipartisan action that protects the climate and builds the economy. It will help avoid a disastrous increase in global temperatures (up to a half-degree Celsius) and create some 33,000 American jobs and promote billions in American exports—without tax breaks or federal spending. That would also be helpful as Congress looks for ways to help address the economic crisis due to the COVID pandemic,” stated David Doniger, Senior Strategic Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council.
WRI
"Curbing the release of HFC ‘super-pollutants’ is one of the most impactful measures we can take to slow the rate of climate change, potentially avoid some of its most costly outcomes, and protect the health and safety of the American people,” Andrew Light, Distinguished Senior Fellow, and Tyler Clevenger, Research Analyst, at the World Resources Institute, wrote in testimony.
Clean Air Task Force, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Investigation Agency, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club
“Time is of the essence to begin the HFC phasedown and the amended AIM Act meets the urgent need for legislation in this important area of climate protection,” the groups wrote in a letter of support.
The AIM Act is good for U.S. manufacturing
American Chemical Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and National Association of Manufacturers
“The approach outlined in your agreement would dramatically reduce a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, while creating new manufacturing jobs for American workers and growing the U.S. share of the global market for heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment by 25%. Your efforts to thoughtfully engage with all stakeholders and craft tailored improvements to the amendment make it possible for the full Senate to approve this proposal and the underlying climate and energy innovation bill and see it taken up by the House before the end of this Congress,” the groups wrote in a letter of support.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
"ASHRAE supports passage of the AIM Act, as it provides industry with a clear and orderly path to transition out of high-polluting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and into a next generation of refrigerants. The AIM Act also creates an element of certainty needed for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) sector, which employs 1.3 million people in the U.S. alone. The transition will also help U.S. manufacturing companies to export products, as this transition is already taking place in Europe," Darryl K. Boyce, P. Eng., President of ASHRAE, said in testimony.
Danfoss
“As our country grapples with the coronavirus and the potentially devastating impacts it could have on the U.S. economy, the importance of the AIM Act to American manufacturers and workers in the HVARC industry has never been greater – or more urgent. Passage of the AIM Act is the kind of leadership desperately needed right now from the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Environment & Public Works to help guide our industry through this challenge and into better and more prosperous times ahead,” testified John L. Sheff, Director of Public and Industry Affairs at Danfoss.
Heating Air Conditioning Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI)
"The Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) fully supports and has been urging passage of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019 (AIM Act), S.2754,” HARDI said in testimony. “This legislation has strong bipartisan support, counting over a third of the United States Senate as cosponsors. The legislation is supported by producers, manufacturers, distributors, and contractors across the HVACR industry. This broad support underscores the important role a structured phasedown plays in ensuring an orderly transition to the next generation of refrigerants."
The AIM Act is good for the U.S. economy
A-Gas
"As a country, we should be immensely proud that we have the people, technology and markets to bring about significant change through the practical balance of advancing our domestic industries with the sustainability of our environment. I believe that the AIM Act provides the necessary leadership, and at the right time, to achieve this balance,” A-Gas President Mike Armstrong testified.
Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)
“The transition from HFCs into next generation refrigerant technologies – many of which are made in the United States – represents an opportunity to continue to lead the world in these technologies and reap the benefits this leadership affords to American manufacturers, workers, and consumers,” testified Stephen R. Yurek, President and CEO of AHRI. He continued that the bill would result in “…33,000 new jobs, the $12.5 billion in direct manufacturing output, the positive swing in balance of trade, and the 25 percent boost in exports.”
Ceres BICEP
“The international community is committed to phasing down HFCs, and U.S. industry is poised to lead in the manufacturing of replacement chemicals and systems for HFCs,” Vice President of Government Relations at Ceres, Anne L. Kelly, said in testimony. “Phasedown of HFCs in the United States is expected to deliver billions of dollars of economic benefit and tens of thousands of new jobs. Analysis of the AIM Act estimates that the bill will create an additional 150,000 direct and indirect U.S. jobs as well as generate $38.8 billion in economic benefits annually by 2027.”
Daikin
“Passage of the AIM Act helps ensure the US maintain its technological leadership and global market share, and is critical to America’s economic recovery,” Daikin said in testimony.
Honeywell
“We commend Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Cassidy for their leadership in introducing the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. Honeywell strongly supports HFC phasedown as an essential initiative for American competitiveness. Decisive action at the federal level is critical to supporting economic growth and job creation at home and the success of exporting U.S. innovation abroad,” said Rajeev Gautam, President and CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers
“Phasing out HFCs would directly add 33,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs over the next decade, as well as indirectly adding 117,000 jobs, on top of an already-projected 47% baseline increase over that same period. Total industry output is projected to grow over 70% by 2027. This legislation would grow the U.S. share of the world market for heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment 25% over its current share,” Chuck Chaitovitz , Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Ross Eisenberg, Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, wrote in a joint letter of support.
US Green Building Council
"As the country grapples with great economic uncertainty, the importance of the AIM Act to American manufacturers and workers in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry has come into greater focus,” testified Bryan Howard, Legislative Director at the U.S. Green Building Council. “Since introduction in 2019, the AIM Act has been widely regarded as an example of common-sense regulation and an engine of job creation and new investment in the U.S. economy."
The AIM Act is good for U.S. jobs
Arkema Inc.
“The AIM Act helps U.S. industry maintain its technology leadership, which in turn helps American manufacturers expand their share of the global market,” testified Richard Rowe, President and CEO of Arkema Inc. “It will establish a federal framework for guiding our industry through a transition out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and into next generation refrigerant technologies – many of which are made and manufactured here in the United States, including at our facility in Calvert City, KY which employs over 300 full time employees.”
Chemours
"…[D]elay in implementing a Federal HFC Phasedown impacts our ability to further invest in new job creation and domestic innovation…The AIM Act will provide a federal framework for an orderly transition to next generation technologies, many of which are manufactured here in the United States. As our nation emerges from this present crisis, policies that promote domestic investment and put American workers to work deserve thoughtful action," Edwin Sparks, President of Fluoroproducts at Chemours, testified.
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC)
"Without Federal direction, some jurisdictions are already moving forward to set requirements and establish timelines that may not be attainable. The AIM Act would solidify this activity, manufacturers could proceed with product design, building designers could plan how to proceed, the distribution chain could implement processes for handling equipment, and installing contractors could develop and train the next generation of HVACR technicians,” PHCC wrote in testimony.
The AIM Act is good for consumers
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
“In the dialogue over the last two years with EPA and other key officials, it is our understanding that analysis prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisors and the US EPA have concluded that implementation of the program outlined in the AIM Act would be de minimus or even cost beneficial. According to Senators Kennedy and Carper, reports of EPA preliminary analysis have estimated the cost of implementation of the AIM Act over 15 years could result in consumer cost savings of $3.7 billion or more,” testified Kevin Fay, Executive Director of the Alliance.
American Lung Association
"By phasing down HFCs, S. 2754 will help protect Americans from the health impacts of climate change while ensuring that patients will continue to have access to key medications,” the Association said in testimony.
Carrier Corporation
Justin Keppy of Carrier Corporation also shared testimony, saying, “A national phasedown of HFC refrigerants ensures a predictable regulatory path and provides certainty to refrigerant producers, manufacturers and, most importantly, consumers on new residential and light commercial products underpinning the HVACR market.”
Daikin
Daikin also highlighted the consumer benefits of the AIM Act, testifying that the bill “…would provide consumers with sustainable technology options, not impact refrigerant availability to existing equipment owners, and lower net lifecycle costs for consumers. A preliminary analysis performed by EPA estimates billions of dollars in consumer costs savings over the proposed implementation period. Alternatively, without a federal program, a less efficient technology transition could yield higher costs for consumers and create great uncertainty for US manufacturing.”
Lennox International
“Congress should pass the AIM Act to reduce the consumer’s cost to cool their homes. An efficient, predictable and cost-effective federal transition reduces consumer cost. The transition from HFC refrigerants will not increase the cost of HVACR products to consumers if done in an efficient, predictable and cost-effective manner at the federal level,” John J. Hurst of Lennox International said in testimony.
