Dive Brief:
- Maryland revealed a plan this week to counter smog from coal-fired facilities, but the new restrictions have pleased neither environmentalists concerned about emissions nor power plant owners warning of reliability issues.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) had pulled regulations proposed by former Gov. Martin O'Malley, introducing instead a plan to allow more flexibility in reducing emissions at power plants.
- The Baltimore Sun reports that power plant owners are warning the new restrictions are still too stringent and could lead to scenarios where reliability is threatened in the event a more efficient plant goes offline.
Dive Insight:
Gov. Hogan's proposal to limit smog from coal facilities could wind up threatening reliability despite flexibility built into the new rule, according to power plant owners in the state. The new rules aim to dramatically reduce nitrogen oxide, but would allow operators several ways to comply with the new limits.
Hogan had pulled and revised new rules proposed by former Gov. O'Malley, adding compliance options that involve 30-day and 24-hour limits on Maryland coal plants average emissions. But NRG Vice President Walter Stone told the Baltimore Sun that the company can envision scenarios where an efficient generator must go offline, leading other less-efficienct facilities to follow suit in order to meet 24-hour limits.
On the flip side, both The Sierra Club and Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility filed lawsuits saying the O'Malley rules should have stood as written.
The state is taking comment on the proposed rules through Friday, the Sun reported.
In May the Maryland Department of the Environment issued emergency rules for the summer ozone season, but said more stringent standards would be needed to meet expected new ozone restrictions at the federal level. Those regulations are expected to be finalized this fall.
