211 Utility MACT - Impact and Compliance Strategy is Hot Topic on Thurs., Feb. 17, 2011

Utility MACT - Impact and Compliance Strategy is Hot Topic on Thurs., Feb. 17, 2011

EPA is expected to issue a draft of proposed new regulations for air pollution emissions from electrical generating units (EGUs) based upon the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments in March 2011. The final regulations should be promulgated by November 2011 and then power plants will have 36 months to comply.

Based on what we have seen in the Cement MACT and proposed Industrial Boiler MACT, we assume that most coal-fired power plants, even those with APC equipment installed, will not meet the new emission limits that will be effective in November 2014 and will need to add APC equipment. Because of the short time frame for compliance, power plant operators need to begin developing an integrated control strategy now based on worst case scenarios. This is a more difficult task for fleet operators that have plants with different equipment design and configurations and a variety of different coal types and characteristics. Developing a strategy to address the utility MACT is also more complex because in addition to HAPs, EPA is in the process of promulgating new regulations that will impact emissions standards for NO_x and SO₂(Transport Rule), particulates and greenhouse gases.

The following speakers will address the issues related to the impact of the Utility MACT on power plant operators, the current status of the MACT rule making, the worst case scenario of emissions limits and required controls under the MACT, the key issues to be considered when developing a strategy to achieve compliance with the MACT, control technologies and equipment that can be utilized to achieve the expected emissions limits imposed by the MACT and various other strategies that an operator could adopt.

Bill Maxwell of the U.S. EPA Energy Strategies Group, Sector Policies and Programs Division, will address the current status of the MACT rule making and discuss, in general terms, the control technologies and equipment that can be utilized to achieve the expected emissions limits imposed by the proposed MACT. Mr. Maxwell has advised us in advance that because the proposed MACT rule will have just been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, his ability to respond to questions will be somewhat limited.

Robert (Bob) Fraser, QEP, Senior Technical Director for Power Generation Services at AECOM Environment, will discuss “Boiler MACT Status – Prelude to Utility MACT”. The U.S. EPA will issue a “Final” Industrial Boiler MACT Rule by February 21, 2011, which is expected to be closely followed by a proposal for the Utility Boiler MACT in March 2011. Finalization of the Industrial Boiler MACT has been likened to “Making Sausage”, and even the Final Rule to be issued next week will not likely be completely final. There are many lessons learned from Industrial Boiler MACT that are likely to affect Utility Boiler MACT, as there are many similarities and U.S. EPA is using the same general procedures to develop both sets of standards. This presentation will review the present status of the Industrial Boiler MACT Rule and how Boiler MACT lessons learned may affect the evolution of utility MACT.

Ajay Kasarabada, an Air Permitting Manager in Black & Veatch Energy Division's Environmental Management Services Section and Diane Fischer, Manager of Business Development for Air Quality Control Projects for Black & Veatch’s Power Generation Services, will provide a brief overview of the current status of the Utility MACT rulemaking, as well as the likely implications of the rule given the regulatory history of the Boiler MACT. Additionally, the presentation will focus on the key issues to be considered in developing a Utility MACT compliance strategy and the technologies that can be utilized to achieve compliance with the expected limits.

Robert Tang, President and CEO, CEFCO Global Clean Energy, LLC, will describe a newly patented technology for comprehensive Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) compliance. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has allowed all 36 Claims of CEFCO’s original patent application in 2010. The CEFCO Technology uses supersonic shockwave “free-jet collision scrubbing” together with a chemical conversion process and is expected to be recognized and adopted as a comprehensive solution for Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT). It is expected to use much less energy than the BACT Air Quality Control Systems (AQCS) and Carbon Capture (CCS) processes that use traditional thermodynamics and conventional chemistry and/or catalysts for treating and capturing pollutants and CO₂.

Ph: 847-784-0012 | Fax; 847-784-0061

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