Rules Advance For Cutting Power Plant Emissions

Contact: Tom Mather (919) 715-7408
Date: February 9, 2000
Rules Advance For Cutting Power Plant Emissions

RALEIGH - A key element in Governor Jim Hunt's Clean Air Plan for controlling ozone pollution cleared a hurdle Wednesday as a state panel moved forward with proposed rules for curbing emissions from power plants.

The rules, if adopted by the state Environmental Management Commission (EMC), would require the state's coal-fired electric power plants to reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about two-thirds by 2007. NOx is the key cause of ozone smog, which is harmful to public health and the environment.

The EMC's Air Quality Committee voted Wednesday to send the proposed rules to the full commission for consideration at its March 9 meeting. The EMC must hold public hearings before adopting the rules, so it will decide in March whether to take the rules to hearing. Under the committee's recommendation, the EMC hearings also would consider comments on alternative proposals by utility companies and environmental groups. A final vote on the rules is expected in September.

"The proposed rules are the next piece in the puzzle for solving our ozone problem," said Bill Holman, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). "Last summer, the General Assembly passed legislation for curbing exhaust from cars and trucks. Now it's time to focus on power plants, which are the largest source of ozone-forming pollution in North Carolina."

Gov. Hunt proposed his Clean Air Plan to help protect North Carolina's environment and public health from ozone, the primary component of smog. In July, the General Assembly enacted a major portion of the plan by passing legislation for reducing emissions from motor vehicles, including measures for expanding the auto emissions testing program and requiring low-sulfur gasoline. The EMC must approve the next step, which calls for substantial reductions in power plant emissions.

The proposed state rules would provide utilities with two options for reducing their emissions of nitrogen oxides. One option would seek a two-thirds reduction in NOx emissions from the state's five largest power plants, as Hunt initially proposed when announcing his Clean Air Plan. The other option would seek an equivalent reduction in NOx emissions from all power plants, while allowing utilities more flexibility in where to achieve the cuts. Environmental groups have called for stricter cuts in NOx emissions from power plants, while utilities have proposed lesser reductions.

Monitoring by the state Division of Air Quality (DAQ) shows that ozone levels exceed the new standard across much of North Carolina. This year, ozone levels exceeded the standard on 68 days in North Carolina - the fifth highest level among the 50 states. Ozone is a highly reactive form of oxygen that is unhealthy to breathe and can damage trees and crops. It is formed when nitrogen oxides react with hydrocarbons in the air during hot, sunny weather. Motor vehicles and power plants are the major sources of ozone-forming pollution in North Carolina.

The General Assembly enacted the mobile-source phase of the Governor's plan in July by passing legislation that requires the use of low-sulfur gasoline statewide by January 2004 and expands the motor-vehicle emissions testing program from nine counties to 48 counties by July 2006. The bill also sets goals for reduced driving and increased use of alternative-fuel vehicles. Gov. Hunt's Transit 2001 plan also will reduce emissions from cars and trucks by providing more funds for rail and mass transit.

In addition to the stricter controls on motor vehicles and power plants, North Carolina should benefit from the federal Clean Air Act's Title IV provisions, which require utilities to reduce their NOx emissions by about 40 percent in the year 2000, in addition to on-going cutbacks in sulfur oxide emissions. Although Title IV was aimed at reducing acid rain, the emissions cutbacks also should reduce ozone levels and improve visibility - a major issue in the mountains of North Carolina.

The Governor's Clean Air Plan should reduce total NOx emissions by more than 40 percent when fully implemented by the year 2007. These NOx reductions include 20 percent from the Title IV provisions of the Clean Air Act, 8 percent from the emissions controls on motor vehicles, and about 15 percent from the power plant reductions. In order to meet the new ozone standard, DENR is likely to propose additional controls on power plants and other industries within the next few years.

The DAQ also has expanded its Air Awareness Program, which helps curb ozone levels by increasing public awareness about air pollution and things people can do to help prevent it. More information about ozone, the Air Awareness Program and other air quality issues can be found at the DAQ=s web site, http://daq.state.nc.us/.

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