Subject: Power plant particulate more not less.
EPA Raises Fine Particulate Estimates 500 percent
In 1994, McIlvaine challenged EPA estimates of coal-fired power plant particulate emissions as being far too low. The closest to official EPA numbers are posted in “Trends 1970-2001". They show that fine particle emissions (PM2.5) were 108,000 tons in 1994, but suddenly jumped to 594,000 tons in 2000. In 1999, PM2.5 emissions from bituminous plants were 61,000 tons. The next year they were suddenly 431,000 tons. Emissions from plants burning sub bituminous coals jumped from 27,000 tons in 1999 to 72,000 tons in 2000.
There is no explanation for these huge increases other than that they were to correct an original mistake. However, the EPA estimate is still below the lowest end of the range. McIlvaine estimates total particulate at between 1.2 million tons/yr. and 3.6 million tons/yr. The fine particulate portion is between 800,000 tons/yr. and 2 million tons/yr.
McIlvaine has proposed an escalating payment plan for particulate. Higher emitting utilities would pay lower emitting utilities until national goals are reached. Since only a small number of plants are responsible for most of the particulate, this approach may get support from the utility industry. Some plants are permitted to emit 0.2 lbs/MMBtu. When you add condensibles, the total is 0.3 or 0.4 lbs/MMBtu. On the other hand, some new plants are down in the 0.03 lbs/MMBtu range. So it only takes 10 percent of the plants at the high number to offset 90 percent of the plants at the low number.
Detailed plant by plant evaluations are provided in the Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System. You can see samples at: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/energy.html .
Bob McIlvaine
847-784-0012