LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Grocery store leaders from across the country thanked President Donald Trump this morning because of two key changes he’s making to EPA rules from the Biden era.
The hope is that this will help lower grocery prices, but some question how environmentally friendly it will be.
“Thanks to today’s reforms, the American people have lower grocery pr ices, cheaper transportation of goods, and lower costs of air conditioning at no detriment at all to our country. Zero,” said President Trump.
The first change concerns the 2023 Technology Transmissions rule, and the second concerns the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Act.
Both aim to eliminate toxic chemicals called hydrofluorocarbons.
The first rule mandated that all grocery stores and other businesses replace refrigeration models lacking features to prevent the release of toxins.
Now, Trump is delaying the deadline for these replacements.
The owner of Fresh Food, Michael Gay, says this delay is also delaying an increase in food prices that would have been necessary for them to afford the change.
“I literally, two years ago, put in equipment that should have about 20 more years of use of life, and to replace literally every single piece of equipment in our store would have been unbelievably cost-prohibitive,” he said. “Driving up costs as we fight every day to try to keep them as low as we can.”
Kevin McDaniel owns hundreds of Piggly Wiggly grocery stores and spoke at Thursday’s conference about the cost savings he’s realizing from the deadline delay.
“You could look for 800,000 to a million and a half dollars per store to do a change out,” he said.
The second rule change targets the restrictions created for refrigerated transport trucks.
Initially, it aimed to prevent the leakage of hydrofluorocarbons from these semis, but now Trump says these trucks will be exempt from any previous restrictions.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin says that the changes won’t influence public health, but other supporters of the initial rules disagree.
Climate Campaign Director Avipsa Mahapatra sent the following statement to Channel 8.
“Today’s decision is a reckless step backward for climate action, public health and economic certainty. Amid dangerous heat waves, climate-fueled disasters and rising energy costs, the Administration is choosing to weaken one of the most effective climate measures available.”
Many grocers in Lincoln failed to comment on the matter amid rising grocery costs and inflation in the months leading up to the mid-term elections.
Many economists nationwide say the changes may not have much impact on food prices.
Climate Campaign Director Avipsa Mahapatra, Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Act, Environmental Protections Agency, epa, EPA administrator Lee Zelding, fresh food, hydrofluorocarbons, Kevin McDaniel, Michael Gay, Piggly Wiggly, Technology Transmissions rule
