Federal Legislative Overview
There have been a number of federal legislative proposals in recent years concerning mercury reductions including the Clear Skies Act, the Clean Power Act and the Clean Air Planning Act. These proposals reflect the growing trend toward permanent mercury reductions. In the absence of confirmed legislation to reduce mercury emissions, the EPA issued the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) in March 2005 to provide a current-term solution to the issue.
| |
Clear Skies Act (2005) |
Clean Power Act (2005) |
Clean Air Planning Act (2005) |
CAIR/CAMR |
| Affected Units |
• Electricity generating facilities with a nameplate capacity > 25 MW |
• Existing and new electricity generating facilities with a nameplate capacity >/= 15 MW |
• Existing and new electricity generating facilities with a nameplate capacity > 25 MW |
• Existing and new electricity generating facilities with a nameplate capacity > 25 MW; cogen units selling more than 1/3 of potential output capacity and more than 25 MW to the grid.
• CAIR: 28 States + DC
• CAMR: 50 States + DC |
| Emissions Caps |
SO2
• 2010: 4.5 mm tons
• 2018: 3.0 mm tons
HG
• 2010: 34 tons
• 2018: 15 tons
CO2
• Not covered
|
SO2
• 2010: 2.25 mm tons
- Western 275,000 tons
- Non-Western: 1.975 mm tons
HG
• 2010: 5 tons
CO2
• 2010: 2.05 bn tons
|
SO2
• 2009: 4.5 mm tons
• 2013: 3.5 mm tons
• 2016: 2.25 mm tons
HG
• 2009: 24 tons
• 2013: 10 tons
CO2
• 2009: 2.655 bn tons
• 2013: 2.454 bn tons |
SO2 (CAIR)
• 2010: 3.6 mm tons
• 2015: 2.5 mm tons
HG (CAMR)
• 2010: 38 tons
• 2018: 15 tons
CO2
• Not covered |
Source: Enviornmental Protection Agency (Multi-Pollutant Analysis: Comparison Briefing, October 2005)
|
