This month, the EPA finalized US standards for mercury and air toxics emissions from power plants. The regulations are expected to affect 1,100 coal-fired units and 300 oil-fired units at a total of 600 power plants. Power plants are responsible for approximately 50% of mercury emissions and 77% of acid gas emissions. The standards provide emission limits for mercy, particulate matter (PM) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) for coal-fired units. For oil-fired units, limits are set for PM, HCl and hydrogen fluoride. Certain types of power plants are subject to alternative standards for pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, and individual and total metal air toxics. Changes from the proposed rule include the use of filterable PM and revised monitoring provisions. Existing power plants have four years to meet the new standards, and states can provide an additional year for installing technology. The EPA also issued revisions to the new source performance standards for fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam-generating units. The estimated annual cost for compliance for the standards is $9.6 billion.

Source: EPA