Clean air and Massachusetts utilities : eight years of cleaning up power plant emissions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts PDF
Preview Clean air and Massachusetts utilities : eight years of cleaning up power plant emissions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5^ W?6. £X^L.^- C ^k. UMASS/AMHERST The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department STATE HOUSE BOSTON 02133 • 31EDt.bQlbHb3aai (617) 727-3600 ARGEO PAUL CELLUCCI Governor Clean Air and Massachusetts Utilities: Eight Years of Cleaning up Power Plant Emissions in the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts A 75% Decrease in Air Pollution from Massachusetts Utilities: NOx Emissions Reduction 1990-2003 45,000 NOx 41,000 tons in 1990 2003 i Clean Air and Massachusetts Utilities Massachusetts is proud ofits national leadership in cleaning up older, dirty power plants — not only within the Commonwealth, but also dirty power plants outside of the state that have kept us from breathing clean air. Here are just a few examples ofwhat we have accomplished during the last eight years ofthe Weld and Cellucci Administrations: Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to cap the air pollution from all We power plants in the Commonwealth. were the first state in the nation to support the new, more protective public health standards for reducing smog and fine particulate air pollution. NOx • From 1990 to 1996, Massachusetts reduced the emissions ofour fossil- fueled power plants from 41,000 tons to 16,000 tons. By the year 2003 in Massachusetts, we will have reduced NOx emissions down to 12,000 tons — a 75% reduction. A 75% Decrease in Air Pollution from Massachusetts Utilities: NOx Emission Reduction 1990-2003 50,000 " 41 000 tons NO, 75% Reduction 40,000 Ji Tons of 1990- 2003 NOx 30,000 - Emissions >v 16,000 tons NO 20,000 " x ,12,000 tons NO, 10,000 - o -I I i 1990 1996 2003 June 1998 Page 1 • Massachusetts' limits on pollution for new power plants are some ofthe most stringent in the country. They are more than 1 times as stringent than "new" federal standards recently proposed by the U.S. EPA. Massachusetts has one ofthe Most Stringent Emission Standards in the Country for New Power Plants — More than Ten Times as Stringent than U.S. EPA s "New" Standards. 0.7 0.6 3 m 0.5 - 0.4 o I 0.3 o 0. 0.15 o 0.2 0.1 0.010 Current Proposed Massachusetts U.S. EPA U.S. EPA Air Permit NSPS NSPS Standards NO Massachusetts is about to go even further by establishing a x emissions standard of2.5 parts per million for all new power plants in the Commonwealth. That means that the emissions from these new power plants will be almost as clean as the surrounding air in the Commonwealth. Two weeks ago, Massachusetts committed to reducing mercury emissions by 50% in five years. Massachusetts played a leadership role in convincing the New other England states and eastern Canadian provinces to join our state in slashing mercury emissions in half. June 1998 Page 2 Digitized by the Internet Archive 2013 in http://archive.org/details/cleanairmassachuOOmass Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to enact a revolutionary utility restructuring law that will hold all electricity suppliers to the same strict environmental standards, will reward efficiency, and will encourage investment in new clean power plants that will eventually replace older, dirtier less efficient generation stations. Massachusetts 'Generation Performance Standard will Dramatically Reduce Pollution from Power Plants Both Within and Outside the Commonwealth. 5 n(0 c o o Q. Ox z U.S. Generating Sithe Energies Northeast Avg. Utility (formerly NEES) (formerly BECO) Utilities Co. in Ohio Emissions Data: Natural Resources Defense Council Massachusetts has made significant environmental and public health gains by reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Since 1986, Massachusetts' SO? emissions have dropped more than 60% because ofour successful efforts to control acid rain. The Cellucci administration believes older and dirtier plants should be required to meet strict standards. Massachusetts has been at the forefront ofthe fight to EPA force the U.S. to eliminate their "grandfathering" rules that allow older plants in the Midwest to continue to emit at pollution levels much, much higher than the emission levels ofour power plants. June 1998 Page 3 Massachusetts will be the first state in the nation to implement further emissions reductions at our own power plants — assuming the Midwest utilities are held to the same standard. Specifically, ifthe federal government requires a 1.5 lb. per MWh standard for all power plants in the Midwest, Massachusetts will not only do the same, but we will be the first state to implement that standard. This NO means that by 2003, Massachusetts will further reduce its power plant x ~ NO emissions by an additional 3,000 tons creating a more stringent cap from x 12,000 tons to 9,000 tons. NOx Governor Cellucci Proposal to Reduce 's Emissions from Massachusetts Utilities by an additional 3,000 tons 50,000 41,000 tons NO 40,000 Tonsof Summertime NOx 30,000 Emissions 20,000 12,000 tons NO. 10,000 9,000 tons NO. ] 1990 1996 2003 The transport of air pollution from upwind states has a significant impact on our air. Massachusetts has led the eastern states in targeting the large power plants in the Midwest where individual plants emit more pollution than all ofthe power plants in Massachusetts combined. Massachusetts has led a coalition ofstates to demand that EPA immediately impose tighter standards on those dirty upwind power plants. June 1998 Page 4
The list of books you might like
