HB 51-USE OF DESIGNATED REFRIGERANTS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:38:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced  the consideration of HOUSE  BILL NO. 51                                                               
"An  Act relating  to refrigerants  designated as  acceptable for                                                               
use under federal law."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He stated  that this is the  second hearing of this  bill and his                                                               
intention today is to hear public testimony.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:39:20 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   STANLEY  WRIGHT,   District  22,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,  Alaska,  sponsor  of HB  51,  thanked  the                                                               
committee for hearing the bill.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:39:50 PM                                                                                                                    
FORREST  WOLFE,  Staff,  Representative  Stanley  Wright,  Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, gave  a recap  of HB  51. He                                                               
stated that HB 51 grants  Alaska the opportunity to modernize and                                                               
implement the  newest forms of refrigeration  technology entering                                                               
the market.  As part of a  larger movement across the  country to                                                               
phase out  harmful hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Alaska  must update                                                               
building  codes and  laws to  allow  for new  refrigerants to  be                                                               
utilized.  Transitioning  away  from  HFCs  will  reduce  harmful                                                               
emissions by up to 75 percent  and contribute to job creation. He                                                               
clarified that  HB 51 creates  an avenue for the  transition from                                                               
HFCs to alternative refrigerants but does not mandate anything.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:41:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN opened  public  testimony on  HB  51; finding  no                                                               
testifiers, he closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN held HB 51 in committee.