Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/22/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB273 | |
| SB146 | |
| HB253 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 273 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 146 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 257 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 253 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 253-FEDERALLY DESIGNATED REFRIGERANTS
3:30:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 253 "An Act relating to
refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal
law."
3:31:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, District 22, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said HB 253 adds a small section to
Alaska's statutes, which allows for but does not mandate the
transition away from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This legislation
simply ensures that building codes in Alaska do not stop the use
of and approve EPA HFC alternatives if the equipment needed is
installed properly in compliance with the necessary safety
standards. There is a nationwide effort to transition from HFCs
to less pollutant alternatives in the HVAC and construction
industries are beginning to gain significant momentum. HB 253
will ensure that Alaska is able to adopt these new technologies
as they become available and ready for the market.
3:32:18 PM
JOSIPHIAH MASON, Staff, Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of HB
253. He said House Bill 253 ensures the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) and construction industries in Alaska
can transition to the use of newer refrigerants and technologies
which are less pollutant than the currently used
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HB 253 is necessary so that Alaska
may participate in the larger federal push to transition away
from HFC containing refrigerants, which has initiated as part of
American innovation and manufacturing Act signed into law in
December 2020. He noted that HB 253 did not contain any
mandates. It would allow Alaska to move forward with this
transition by ensuring that Alaska building codes would not
prevent the use of an HFC alternative if all safety and
installation standards are met. On the national level, making
the transition away from HFCs would contribute to creating an
estimated 33,000 jobs, as well as continuing support of over
138,000 current jobs.
3:33:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT explained that HB 253 was functionally the
same as legislation introduced the prior year except that it was
worded differently with the guidance of legislative legal
services.
3:34:18 PM
CHRISTOPHER BRESEE, Manager of Government Affairs, Air-
Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI),
Denver, Colorado offered AHRI's strong support for HB 253. He
said AHRI represented about 330 manufacturers of HVAC and water
heating equipment, about ninety percent of the North American
market. He said he was available to answer any questions.
3:34:59 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held HB 253 in committee.