Now Accepting Applications for the California Air Resources Board’s F-gas Reduction Incentive Program

$38.5 million in funding available for climate-friendly refrigeration systems in California

The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) F-gas Reduction Incentive Program (FRIP), which is administered by the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), is now accepting program applications for FRIP funding. The application is available at FRIPfunding.com.

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The program aims to reduce high-global warming potential (GWP) emissions by incentivizing the adoption of climate-friendly, ultra-low-GWP (<10 GWP) refrigerant technologies in existing commercial and industrial refrigeration facilities. Currently, the program offers $38.5 million in funding to support full or partial refrigeration system replacements in California.

“FRIP is a big opportunity for California businesses feeling the pressure of increasing state and federal HFC regulations,” said Danielle Wright, executive director of NASRC. “Our team of experts is ready to help applicants take full advantage of these funds and transition to future-proof solutions.”

NASRC encourages interested parties to apply early, as funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program Eligibility and Funding Amounts

Proposed projects must fall within the retail food, industrial process or cold storage sectors and be located in an existing California-based commercial or industrial refrigeration facility with at least one system containing more than 50 pounds of high-GWP refrigerant. Program applicants must not pre-purchase equipment or receive funds from other California programs targeting low-GWP refrigerants, among other conditions. See complete eligibility requirements.

Applicants can receive up to $500,000 in incentive funds, with incentives and facility maximums differing by refrigeration sector, project scale and facility location. For retail food, FRIP offers higher incentive maximums and increased application and technical assistance to facilities located in low-income and disadvantaged communities (“priority communities”) and independent facilities. Learn more about priority communities.

The application period closes on January 31, 2025. A second application window will open in March 2025 for specific sectors.

Application Process

Visit FRIPfunding.com to create an account, access and submit applications. If an application is approved after submission, the applicant must sign a Technical Grant Agreement before ordering equipment. Installations must be completed by December 31, 2026.

NASRC staff is available to provide technical assistance to all applicants. Contact program staff at info@fripfunding.com or (833) 852-3747.

The HFC Problem

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are super-polluting greenhouse gases (GHGs) and one of the most potent drivers of climate change. They have a disproportionate impact on global warming in the near term. As the most common refrigerant in retail food refrigeration and cooling systems, their mitigation is significantly more urgent than other GHGs.

Climate-friendly refrigerant alternatives with ultra-low GWP exist, such as carbon dioxide (R744), ammonia (R717) and propane (R290). Transitioning to these refrigerants requires a complete system replacement, making the upfront costs a significant barrier, especially for small and independent businesses and businesses operating in disadvantaged communities. These funds will help eliminate that barrier.

About the F-gas Reduction Incentive Program (FRIP)

FRIP offers funding to early adopters who replace high-GWP refrigeration systems with ultra-low-GWP refrigeration technologies.

Launched in 2020, FRIP initially provided $1 million in funding to support food retail installations of low-GWP refrigeration equipment and proved to be one of the most impactful and cost-effective programs administered by CARB.

As the third-party administrator for the new round of FRIP, NASRC and its subcontractors support the program’s implementation through stakeholder engagement, technical guidance for applicants and grantees, information sharing, workforce development activities and fund distribution.

FRIP is partially funded through the State of California’s General Fund and California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work to reduce GHG emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.

About the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit working to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by traditional HFC refrigerants. We collaborate with stakeholders from across the industry, including over 55,000 food retail locations, to eliminate the barriers to natural refrigerants in supermarkets. For more information, visit https://nasrc.org, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About the California Air Resources Board

The California Air Resources Board's (CARB) mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. For more information, visit https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/. For media inquiries, contact comms@arb.ca.gov.

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