MINNEAPOLIS – Although federal cap-and-trade legislation aimed at curbing global warming has stalled in the U.S. Senate, after passing in the House of Representatives, Congressional efforts on this issue will continue, said Ted Gartland, Allied Representatives, Mendon, N.Y.
“The next bills will have parts of [the original cap-and-trade bill],” he said yesterday in a presentation at the Food Marketing Institute’s Energy & Store Development Conference here.
In particular, he said, Congress may break out a bill this year that would address HFC refrigerant emissions, which have a very large impact on global warming. Many supermarkets are transitioning to HFC refrigerants from HCFC refrigerants such as R-22 that harm the ozone layer.
“It’s a lot easier to pass HFC legislation than cap-and-trade legislation,” said Gartland, who frequently addresses FMI conferences on energy legislation.