ESAI Power’s latest Emissions Watch update, issued on May 16, 2024, provided our customers with our analysis of the four final rules issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2024, including the Greenhouse Gas Rule (GHG), the Updated Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs), the Updated Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) and the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to strengthen the primary (health-based) annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, PM2.5. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to revise the primary annual standard from 12.0 µg/m3 to a value within the range of 9.0 and 10.0 µg/m3.
Ethan Howland reports in Utility Dive that in a move that could add to regulatory requirements for coal-fired power plants, the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed tightening the primary annual air quality standard for fine particulate matter, called PM 2.5, to a range of 9 micrograms per cubic meter to 10 µg/m3 from 12 µg/m3. Coal plants owners in nonattaintment areas for a revised standard will have to meet requirements outlined in any approved state plans for meeting the federal PM 2.5 limit, according to Julia Criscuolo, ESAI Power manager of renewables and emissions.
Ethan Howland reports in Utility Dive that power plant owners have started the process of potentially retiring 3,228 MW of coal-fired generation in the PJM Interconnection’s footprint this month, according to the grid operator’s generator deactivation list. Another 1,024 MW of coal shut down last year. Looking at the explanations for the planned retirements, our Julia Criscuolo, ESAI Power’s Manager of Renewables and Emissions, said about a third are driven by environmental regulations, a quarter by unfavorable economics and roughly 20% by “end of life” plant issues.
The EPA issued a proposed rule in February 2022 that, if finalized, will implement significant programmatic changes, and establish lower emissions limits to the existing Group 3 Ozone Season Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) beginning in the 2023 ozone season. Following the issuance of this proposed rule, Group 3 CSAPR NOx allowance prices have quadrupled from approximately $6,500/ton in February to $28,500/ton (June 6).