MACT

Obama's New Proposed Regulations On Coal Energy Production Met With Ire Through Kentucky's Coal Country

Earlier this week, the 7th Circuit affirmed the Department of Energy’s new energy efficiency requirements for commercial refrigeration equipment.


Marshall Steam Station, just 30 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the most efficient coal-fired power plant in the United States when it opened in 1966, and maintained its position as best in class until 1974.

The 2,000MW plant is a small part of Duke Energy’s 58,200MW fleet of electric power capacity,
which serves seven million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Keep reading →


Amid accusations that its rule requiring coal-fired power plants without existing control equipment for mercury and other specific air toxins could shut down needed energy generation and tax the US economy, the EPA is using high-technology tools like sharable Youtube videos to defend itself.

This short video is unusually clear for a topic that has dragged on through immense complexity over the last twenty years, and spends no time justifying itself on contested science or disputed compliance schedules. The Agency sticks to its contention that current power plant emissions harm child health, and addresses the economic issues by pointing out that if utilities invest in emissions equipment, that technology can be built and installed using American workers and creating business for companies in the US. Keep reading →

PJM pleased EPA #MATS rule docs include key elements of our proposal to preserve reliability bit.ly/vhB4uP @EPAgov pjminterconnect


Santa arrived a few days early for environmentalists, but the coal industry is getting Scrooge.

The Environmental Protection Agency released its Utility MACT rule on Wednesday, issuing a controversial order to slash mercury and other hazardous emissions from coal-fired power plants. By 2016, all plants must emit as little mercury as the best 12% do today, lowering national emissions 90%. Keep reading →


A division emerged between federal and state environmental regulators this week, with Pennsylvania urging the US Environmental Protection Agency to revise impending CASPR rules or face new strains on the electricity grid.

Pennsylvania on Wednesday urged the EPA to make further revisions to its Cross State Air Pollution rule, which the state said would reduce the use of waste coal by power generators and drive up their costs. Keep reading →