EPA Updates Regional Haze Guidance to Include Grid Reliability Factors
The agency clarifies that states should consider energy impacts and power grid stability when drafting air quality plans for coal plants.
The EPA issued a memorandum Friday updating guidance for state air quality plans, explicitly directing states to consider electric grid reliability when developing strategies to reduce regional haze.
The updated guidance applies to Regional Haze State Implementation Plans (SIPs). These plans are required under the Clean Air Act to improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas by reducing emissions from industrial sources, including coal-fired power plants.
According to the memorandum, the EPA now encourages states to evaluate potential impacts on the electrical grid when determining which emission reduction measures are necessary to meet air quality requirements.
The agency stated that grid reliability falls under the “energy and nonair quality environmental impacts” factor, one of the four statutory criteria established by the Clean Air Act for determining “reasonable progress” toward visibility goals. The other three factors include the costs of compliance, the time necessary for compliance, and the remaining useful life of the facility.
“With recent events like Winter Storm Fern and significant increases in demand in electricity, we must ensure that the electric grid Americans depend on remains reliable,” said Aaron Szabo, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation, in a statement.
The EPA characterized the update as non-binding guidance intended to assist states with remaining second planning period SIPs and any future revisions.
The move comes as the agency continues a broader effort to revise the Regional Haze Rule. The program has historically focused on reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that contribute to visibility issues in protected natural areas.
Critics of previous regional haze enforcement have argued that aggressive emission mandates could lead to premature retirements of baseload power plants. The new guidance suggests a shift toward prioritizing energy security alongside environmental compliance.
The EPA indicated it will continue to work with state partners as it moves forward with more comprehensive revisions to the Regional Haze Rule.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
