Massachusetts’ 4-Pollutant Power Plant Regulations

Sharon WeberMassachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Air Innovations Conference - August 11, 2004 - Chicago, IL

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Affected Facilities’ Contribution to Generation and Emissions

6 affected facilities represent 19% of 2003 New England megawatts of generating capacity

The 6 facilities emit a substantial portion of MA emissions: 46% of 1996 SO2

8% of 1996 NOx

17% of 2002 point source mercury All MA electricity production was projected to account

for 29% of 2000 CO2

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Major Provisions Effective May 11, 2001

Standards Output-Based Emission Rates - SO2, NOx, CO2

Annual caps for CO2 (tons) and Hg (lbs) Hg data collection for cap and 2003 proposed standard Hg control feasibility report by December 2002

Compliance schedules Dates depend on compliance approach

standard path - 10/04 and 10/06 repowering path - 10/06 and 10/08

Hg cap effective at first compliance date

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Mercury Standard Setting Process

Regulation 310 CMR 7.29: Emissions Standards for Power Plants: promulgated May 11, 2001 http://www.state.ma.us/dep/bwp/daqc/files/regs/7c.htm#29

Mercury coal/emissions baseline testing: 2001-2002Stakeholder meetings: Aug/Sep/Oct 2002, Jan 2003Feasibility Report: December 2002 http://www.state.ma.us/dep/bwp/daqc/daqcpubs.htm#other

Proposed regulation: September 2003Final regulation: released May, effective June 4, 2004http://www.mass.gov/dep/bwp/daqc/daqcpubs.htm#regs

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Mercury Control Feasibility Report – December 2002

“Evaluation of the Technological and Economic Feasibility of Controlling and Eliminating Mercury Emissions from the Combustion of Solid Fossil Fuel”

85-90+% removal of flue gas Mercury is feasible

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Final Mercury StandardEffective June 4, 2004

Form of the standard Output-based and % control efficiency options

Level of the standard Phase 1: 85% or 0.0075 lb/GWh by 1/1/2008 Phase 2: 95% or 0.0025 lb/GWh by 10/1/2012

Demonstrating compliance with the standard Every other quarter stack tests 10/06-1/1/2008 CEMs required beginning 1/1/2008

Averaging time of the standard Rolling 12-month basis

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Media Transfer & Off-Site Mercury Reductions

Facility mercury caps include mercury emissions due to on-site re-burn of ash or off-site high temperature processing in Massachusetts (e.g., use of ash in cement kiln or asphalt batching plant)Mercury standards must be met while including mercury emissions due to on-site re-burn of ashUnits shutting down can use early or off-site reductions to 2010. Facilities emitting less than 5 lb in 2001 can use early or off site reductions to phase 2.

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Expected Annual Reductions due to 2001 and 2004 Standards

SO2: 50-75% (about 56,000-84,000 tons)

NOx: 50% (about 15,000 tons)

CO2: 10% (about 1,954,000 tons, implemented on-site or off-site)

Mercury: 85% (about 155 pounds)