Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/06/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB51 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 51 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 51-USE OF DESIGNATED REFRIGERANTS
3:16:05 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 51, "An Act relating to refrigerants designated
as acceptable for use under federal law."
3:16:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT, as prime sponsor, presented HB 51. He
stated that the bill adds a section to the state statutes
allowing, but not mandating, the move away from
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). He said that the bill would prevent
building codes from banning EPA approved alternatives to HFCs.
3:17:58 PM
BILLY HENTHORN, Staff, Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska
State Legislature, provided information and a PowerPoint
presentation on HB 51 on behalf of Representative Wright, prime
sponsor. [A hard copy of the PowerPoint presentation is found
in the committee packet.] He said that the proposed legislation
would allow the HVAC and construction industries to move to
newer and less polluting refrigerants, and thus keep up with the
federal push to do so.
3:18:56 PM
MR. HENTHORN stressed that the bill does not have any mandates,
and instead allows Alaska to move forward by ensuring that
building codes cannot prevent the use of HFC alternatives. He
said that allowing Alaska to keep up with the rest of the
country in this area would be a job creator. He stated that the
bill would have a zero fiscal note and introduced two experts on
the subject available for questions.
3:20:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the motivation was for moving
towards next generation refrigerants.
MR. HENTHORN responded that the newer generation refrigerants
are more efficient and less polluting.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER followed up by asking if it would have a
negative impact on any equipment already purchased by
businesses.
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT responded that it would not, and only
creates opportunities to invest in new technology.
3:22:13 PM
CHAIR SUMNER asked for a clarification on the amount of
greenhouse gas emissions HFCs cause.
MR. HENTHORN answered that the reduction would be equivalent to
2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide.
3:23:23 PM
MIKE NEROZZI, Director, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and
Refrigeration Institute, returned to the previous question and
added that the reduction of HFCs dates to previous legislation
and treaties. He continued that the EPA will be greatly
restricting the usage of HFC refrigerants starting in July 2024,
and manufacturers will begin producing equipment using the new
refrigerants. He said that without allowing the usage of new
refrigerants, it could become difficult for Alaska to have
access to refrigerants in general.
3:25:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked where the new equipment and
refrigerants will be manufactured.
MR. NERROZI answered that his organization represents over 300
North American HVAC, refrigeration, and water heating equipment
manufacturers, and that many of the new alternatives are being
developed by the manufacturers.
3:26:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there had been an attempt at a
federal law to achieve the same means.
MR. NERROZI answered that the goal is to align Alaska state law
with the new regulations, and that the building codes do not
match up with the EPA's timeline. He continued that unless
Alaska caught up, the state would not be able to buy new
refrigerant equipment.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about the building code schedule.
MR. NERROZI deferred the question to Ms. Walter-Terrinoni.
3:30:09 PM
HELEN WALTER-TERRINONI, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs,
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, answered
that the new refrigerants are in the 2024 schedule adopted by
the International Code Council, and waiting until then would be
too late.
3:31:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked about the expected job creation.
3:31:44 PM
MR. NERROZI answered that the additional jobs would be created
by the expansion of facilities.
3:32:21 PM
HELEN WALTER-TERRINONI added that the jobs would come from an
increase in exports of equipment.
3:32:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if there were people trained in the
industry waiting to work with the new technology, and how it
would create new jobs.
MS. WALTER-TERRINONI answered that the technicians of "today and
tomorrow" would be the same and that the additional jobs created
would be manufacturing jobs.
3:34:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for a specification of the building
code being discussed.
MS. WALTER-TERRINONI answered that the 2024 International Code
Council adopted the next generation refrigerants, and that the
next step would be for Alaska to adopt the national building
codes into state and local building codes.
3:36:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how long the industry has been
working on this issue.
MS. WALTER-TERRINONI answered that the industry has been
preparing for the transition since 2008.
3:37:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE asked about recycling or
disposal for HFC replacement.
MS. WALTER-TERRINONI answered that there is a process to recycle
or dispose of both old and future refrigerants approved by the
EPA.
3:38:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if there was anything the legislature
needed to do to prepare technicians and the public for the
change.
3:39:17 PM
MR. NEROZZI answered that the industry has been preparing since
2008 and has been involved in the regulation process for the new
regulations.
3:40:33 PM
MS. WALTER-TERRINONI added that the industry has developed the
training needed for the new refrigerants.
[HB 51 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB51- ver A.PDF |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| HB 51 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| HB 51 - Supporting Documents - AHRI AIM Act Building Code Fact Sheet.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| Hb 51 - Supporting Documents Industry Business Coalition Letter of Support Low GWP Building Code Legislation 2023.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| HB51 - Low GWP Code Map 2.3.23.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| HB51 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |
| HB 51 - Power Point Presentation (H)L&C 2.6.23.pdf |
HL&C 2/6/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 51 |