美國參議院委員會就《美國能源創新法案》修訂案達成一致，美國向逐步淘汰氫氟烴邁出了第一步。
The USA moved a step closer to implementing an HFC phase down following a Senate committee agreement on a revised amendment to the American Energy Innovation Act.
由參議院環境和公共工程委員會提出的修訂案將首次批準全國范圍內分15年逐步減少氫氟烴的使用。該修正案要求環境保護署（EPA）逐步削減氫氟烴生產和消費的85％，因此2036年氫氟烴產量將減少至2011-2013年平均生產消費水平的約15％。?
The revised amendment, introduced by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, will authorise a 15-year phase down of HFCs at a national level for the first time. The amendment requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement an 85% phase down of the production and consumption of HFCs, so they reach approximately 15% of their 2011-2013 average annual levels by 2036.?
這項修正案是兩黨在《美國創新和制造業法案》(S. 2754)的基礎上達成的妥協。《美國創新和制造業法案》是參議員約翰·肯尼迪(John Kennedy)和湯姆·卡珀(Tom Carper)去年提出的兩黨議案。
The amendment is a bipartisan compromise based on the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (S. 2754), a bipartisan bill introduced last year by senators John Kennedy and Tom Carper.
根據該協議，修訂后的修正案將明確氫氟烴的適用范圍，以確保有足夠的氫氟烴供應于必要用途，例如國防噴霧劑、醫用吸入器、半導體制造和關鍵軍事用途。
Under the agreement, the revised amendment will protect essential uses of HFCs, including ensuring there are sufficient supplies of HFCs for essential uses, including defence sprays, medical inhalers, semiconductor manufacturing, and mission-critical military uses.?
它還將保護消費者免受成本上升的影響，明確環境保護署在加快15年的監管時間表里，不應該比市場已經達到的氫氟烴消費水平更快。
It will also provide protection for consumers from cost increases by ensuring EPA cannot accelerate the 15-year regulatory timeline faster than HFC consumption levels that the market is already achieving.
實體利益
Substantial benefits
AHRI總裁兼首席執行官Stephen Yurek對這一消息表示歡迎，他說:“這項修正案使我們向逐步實施減少氫氟烴又邁進了一步，并且可以從新型制冷劑技術的過渡中獲取可觀的經濟利益?！边@項修正案將實現制冷行業的目標，同時保護消費者，提供顯著的經濟和環境效益，我們感謝參議院兩黨領導人的幫助和遠見。”
Welcoming the news, AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek said: “This amendment brings us one step closer to implementing an HFC phasedown and reaping the substantial economic benefits associated with this transition to new refrigerant technologies. The amendment will accomplish our industry’s refrigerant objectives while protecting consumers and providing significant economic and environmental benefits, and we are grateful to this bipartisan group of Senate leaders for their assistance and foresight.”
“我們感謝兩黨大力支持該法案,因為它提供了一個明確的發展方向。氫氟烴在美國的逐步淘汰，將加強美國在全球的技術領先地位。”大氣政策聯盟主任凱文·費伊說。
“We are appreciative of the strong bipartisan support for this legislation as it provides for clear development of a uniform, federally-based HFC phasedown in the United States that will also enhance continued American technology leadership in our country as well as around the globe,” said Kevin Fay, director of the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy.?
這項修正案并非沒有反對者。非營利自由主義Competitive Enterprise Institute表示，這開了一個“危險的先例”，將使得消費者的制冷成本增加。
The amendment is not without its critics. The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a non-profit libertarian think tank, said it set a “dangerous precedent” and would raise the cost of air conditioning and refrigeration for the consumer.
