Hydrofluorocarbon Reclaim and Innovative Destruction Grants

Section 60109(a)(3) of the Inflation Reduction Act provided EPA with $15 million for competitive grants for “reclaim and innovative destruction technologies” consistent with subsections (a) through (i) and subsection (k) of section 103 division S of Public Law 116-260 (also known as the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act). Enacted in 2020, the American Manufacturing and Innovation (AIM) Act authorizes EPA to address Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by: phasing down their production and consumption, maximizing reclamation and minimizing releases from equipment, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies through sector-based restrictions on HFCs. For more information on the AIM Act and its implementing regulations, please visit https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction. The objectives of these grants are to support and contribute to addressing HFCs under the AIM Act by funding three project areas: (1) Reclaim Technologies - pilot projects or proofs of concept for new/better technologies to increase the reclamation of HFCs by expanding access to reclamation and improving the reclamation process; (2) Reclaim Market Dynamics - programs or pilot projects for innovative strategies that address market dynamics to increase HFC reclamation by lowering barriers; and (3) Innovative Destruction Technologies - pilot projects/proof of concept for innovative technologies or innovative deployment of technologies to destroy unusable and unwanted HFCs. Successful implementation of these funds by grantees will result in the advancement of improved technologies and/or deployment of technologies for HFC reclamation and destruction and identification of successful mechanisms to address barriers to HFC reclamation. In addition, successful projects will thoughtfully engage with, provide benefits to, and mitigate any potential negative impacts to low income and disadvantaged communities in project design and implementation. Finally, any projects that propose to build fixed infrastructure will have to comply with the Build America Buy America Act requirements. Funding Priorities - EPA intends to fund projects in three project areas: (1) reclaim technology (2) reclaim market dynamics, and (3) innovative destruction technologies. EPA’s funding priorities are to make awards to applicants that can demonstrate the highest impact (pounds of HFCs recovered or destroyed, as appropriate) with the funding provided. EPA will prioritize projects that are leveraged with other sources of funding, to increase the impact of the grants and increase the amount of reclaimed or destroyed HFCs. EPA also will prioritize projects that thoughtfully engage with communities in project design and implementation.