Biden’s Power-Mad EPA Boasts of Its First “Climate Change Arrest”
The Californian was busted for smuggling air-conditioning gases into a hot-weather state.
The Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report this week about the prosecution of a California man for “smuggling greenhouse gases” across the border from Mexico and selling them online.
The agency posted that it was its first “climate change arrest.”
Michael Hart, 58, was arrested in March and pleaded guilty in September to charges related to transporting refrigerants into the US to peddle on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and other online vendors between June and December 2022.
Biden’s EPA touted the crackdown on Hart, the first-ever person charged for climate change-related bootlegging of refrigerants — namely, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) — without the agency’s approval, in its report.
When charging the San Diego resident earlier this year, US Attorney Tara McGrath vowed “it will not be the last” case of its kind.
“We are using every means possible to protect our planet from the harm caused by toxic pollutants, including bringing criminal charges,” the prosecutor from the Southern District of California said.
As a reminder: Hydrochlorfluorocarbons are important for refrigeration and air conditioning systems. They were initially produced to replace the “ozone-depleting” chlorofluorocarbons.
The compounds have been added to the long-list of evil “greenhouse gases” as part of the pseudoscience climate cultists follow.
As already mentioned, HCFC is an abbreviation of hydrochlorofluorocarbon. These gases are composed of chlorine, carbon, fluorine and hydrogen. They are a type of gas that can be categorised as a transitional gas, as they are being used to replace CFCs as part of the plan to reduce the emission of ozone-depleting gases. HCFCs are gases used in the manufacture of other chemicals.
Despite their lower ozone-depleting potential than CFCs, they have a high global warming potential. These are gases therefore that are to be gradually phased out. Their use is decreasing in developed countries, in particular, in line with the Montreal Protocol. This protocol aims to reduce the baseline to 90%.
This reads as if some guy was arrested for smuggling air conditioners into a hot weather state. This is insane.
— FugitiveMama (@fugitivemama) December 6, 2024
The report also highlighted a long list of penalties and fines it lavished on Americans and their business enterprises.
Additionally, the EPA reported issuing $1.7 billion in administrative and judicial penalties, the highest level since 2017.
The agency’s environmental enforcement efforts also saw 1,851 civil cases concluded, 121 criminal defendants charged, and it issued more than 225 million pounds of “pollution reductions” in “overburdened communities,” according to the report. As of the end of 2024, there are about 480 open criminal investigations on environmental programs.
The results reflect a 3.4% increase in civil cases and a 17.6% increase in criminal charges compared to 2023, The Associated Press reported.
In the FY 2024 report, the EPA also noted that collaborative efforts on the “implementation of EPA’s national priorities” led to a “12% increase in criminal leads opened because of referrals from EPA Headquarters and regional offices.”
How do you know the EPA needs to be reined in?
Joe Biden's EPA made its first "climate change" arrest.
Cc: @leezeldin pic.twitter.com/ypuoQJjQOs
— Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) December 11, 2024
If any member of the Biden administration could read the mood of Americans correctly, this entire report would have been buried during the Christmas news snooze.
But, then again, it appears nobody in that administration understands the citizens of the nation. Hence, we will be enjoying a second scoop of President Donald Trump.
It appears that what the Biden EPA most wants to produce is the political environment. According to David Strom of Hot Air, Biden is going to divert more monies to climate cultists on his way out the door.
Biden says we should expect more climate funding from him before he leaves office. I guess there are more beds to be feathered and too little time to do it all, so he has to rush.
White House says to 'expect more' climate funding before President Biden leaves office https://t.co/OkQNAMBZap
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 13, 2024
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“without the agency’s approval”
There’s the real reason. He didn’t pay off the right folks.
And every time they force a change in refrigerants, HVAC manufacturers must redesign their equipment. In 2025, the cost of a residential heat pump will increase 20 to 30 percent due to the switch to propane-based refrigerant.
From perplexity.ai search for “what will the increase in cost for a residential heat pump be in 2025 due to the switch to propane based refrigerant”:
————-
Factors Contributing to Cost Increase
1. Manufacturing Costs: Developing new HVAC systems to accommodate the newer refrigerants requires updated technology and manufacturing processes2.
2. Training and Installation: Technicians will need to be trained to work with the new refrigerants, potentially increasing labor costs2.
3. Safety Features: Installing safety features to address the flammability of propane will drive up the cost of heat pumps10.
4. Supply Chain Disruptions: Transitioning to new refrigerants and parts may cause availability issues, leading to potential price increases9.
5. Increased Demand: As people learn about the upcoming changes, there may be a rush to buy current models, driving up prices in the short term5.
It’s important to note that while the switch to propane-based refrigerants is part of the reason for the price increase, it’s not the only factor. The new EPA regulations requiring lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and higher energy efficiency standards also contribute to the overall cost increase
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All in service to a hoax. The EPA needs to be dismantled, and the ground salted.
What is oud
The new refrigerant for 2025 contains propane –
Which is flamable
FLAMABLE!
Well, it at least should put an end to the cycle.
1. We hereby approve this refrigerant A patent, and it is safe to use in all AC units.
2. Refrigerant A is now deemed unsafe, the patent has run out, and we deem refrigerant B to be safe. Oh, and we just patented it.
3. (repeat above several times)
4. Oh, to heck with it. Chuck all the rest. We’ll just use propane. At least that can’t be determined to be unsafe. It’s everywhere.
5. (the future) Propane has been determined to be an Enemy of the State. Sweat is now the only legal refrigerant. Obey or be thrown in prison (and sweat).
What is odd about this is that LP was a viable working gas all along. From a safety perspective I would prefer that the unit be outside and chilled or heated water be used to move heat in or out of the building. That would also allow waste heat from a standby generator be used to heat the building. Taking it one more step further, switching to an absorption system would remove the need for LP or Freon.
time to massively downsize, or completely eliminate the EPA
DOGE should consider hiring Terry Tate Office LB to assist their efforts.
The ozone hole closed despite major countries not banning the old refrigerants. But the ban was “effective”because they passed the laws before the hole closed. The Left desperately want similar laws passed to justify them when natural events happen.
Odd that all the links to the story, it does not mention which refrigerant was sold
R12
R22
r408
R422
R12 is a cfc, and the charge was “smuggling’ HCFCs. Probably most R22 systems have been converted (AKA downgraded) to one of the newer gasses already.
Not that it matters a bit which contraband refrigerant it was, just the concept of EP having a criminal enforcement arm is disgusting.
Chevron needs to be installed good and hard in every bureau in this bloated parasite of a government.
What is odd about this is that LP was a viable working gas all along. From a safety perspective I would prefer that the unit be outside and chilled or heated water be used to move heat in or out of the building. That would also allow waste heat from a standby generator be used to heat the building. Taking it one more step further, switching to an absorption system would remove the need for LP or Freon.
Open borders for illegals, drugs, slavers, spies, etc., but not for refrigerant man. Got it.
The vile and stupid Dhimmi-crats are oh-so proud of themselves.
Muslim terrorists/Islamofascists, Iranian spies, Chinese spies, Central American gang thugs and other assorted miscreants can cross our borders and roam the U.S. interior with impunity, but, hey, you better watch out if you are doing anything that goes against the “climate change” agenda.
Priorities!
Lee Zeldin…help!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as all of the Marxist US Attorneys are fired in January, the new batch can drop the charges. Even if the culprit pleads guilty. Who cares. Biden let rapists free.
I hope every person charged by this administration going forward doesn’t pled anything.
Wait about a month, dude
How far will this case go in 38 days?
And as the James O’Keefe undercover video showed the Sundowner administration is tossing gold bars off the Titanic.
I hope President Trump considers pardoning Mr. Hart.
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