Event Title
An Analysis of Electric Utility Air Emission Pollutants and EPA’s New Emission Standards
Location
Hart 116
Start Time
16-5-2013 1:30 PM
End Time
16-5-2013 2:00 PM
Description
In November 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the first standards limiting mercury and other pollutants from coal power plants. Each pollutant standard must be based on existing lowest emitting sources. However, industry representatives claim that because limits are devised for individual pollutants, this results in an unrealistic set of standards based on a hypothetical unit. We conducted a statistical analysis of EPA collected data to determine the feasibility of industry compliance. Specifically, we determined whether there were existing configurations of production and control technology which simultaneously minimized emissions of all newly-regulated air pollutants. If yes, what did these particular configurations include and if no, what emissions tradeoffs were involved.
An Analysis of Electric Utility Air Emission Pollutants and EPA’s New Emission Standards
Hart 116
In November 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the first standards limiting mercury and other pollutants from coal power plants. Each pollutant standard must be based on existing lowest emitting sources. However, industry representatives claim that because limits are devised for individual pollutants, this results in an unrealistic set of standards based on a hypothetical unit. We conducted a statistical analysis of EPA collected data to determine the feasibility of industry compliance. Specifically, we determined whether there were existing configurations of production and control technology which simultaneously minimized emissions of all newly-regulated air pollutants. If yes, what did these particular configurations include and if no, what emissions tradeoffs were involved.