NY-Based Gristedes to Settle US Greenhouse Gas Charges

Gristedes, a New York-based grocer, is set to pay a $400,000 civil fine and spend an estimated $13.5 million in remediation following charges that its store refrigerators emitted more greenhouse gases than its rivals, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gristedes allegedly allowed 42,094 pounds of refrigerant leaks from its stores from 2019 to 2021, according to a lawsuit from The Justice Department. The government organization added that the retailer ignored an aspect of the Clean Air Act, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule.

“Between 2019 and 2021, Gristedes systematically violated EPA refrigerant regulations, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions at a rate far higher than others in the industry,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in a statement. “As a result of our lawsuit, Gristedes is now required to reduce its emissions by over 70 percent from their 2020 levels to offset at least some of the damage it has caused, and it will face significant additional penalties under the consent decree if it fails to do so.”

The consent decree is an agreement between the retailer and the government department wherein Gristedes assumes responsibility for the incidents and a remediation plan is laid out. The decree would require the retailer to make repairs, install advanced refrigerants, and lower its corporate leak rate within four years to below 16 percent.

A judge has yet to approve the consent decree, however, it has been signed by the retailer.

The retailer did not immediately respond to SFA News Daily’s request for comment.