Bill Text: WV SB530 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-10 - To Energy, Industry and Mining [SB530 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2014-SB530-Introduced.html
Senate Bill No. 530
(By Senators Cann, D. Hall, Kirkendoll, Yost, Tucker, Green, Plymale and Jenkins)
____________
[Introduced February 10, 2014; referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
____________
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-5-20, relating to establishing separate standards of performance for carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired electric generating units; and establishing separate standards of performance for natural gas-fired electric generating units.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-5-20, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL.
§22-5-20. Regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units.
(a) The Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection Advisory Council, shall establish separate standards of performance for carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired electric generating units in accordance with subsection (b) and from existing natural gas-fired electric generating units in accordance with subsection (c). The standards of performance established under this section shall be adjusted on a case-by-case basis as provided under subsection (d) and implemented as provided under subsection (e).
(b) Standards of performance for coal-fired electric generating units. -- Except as provided under subsection (d), the standard of performance established for existing coal-fired electric generating units under subsection (a) shall be based upon:
(1) The best system of emission reduction which, taking into account the cost of achieving the reduction and any nonair quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements, has been adequately demonstrated for coal-fired electric generating units that are subject to the standard of performance;
(2) Reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide that can reasonably be achieved through measures undertaken at each coal-fired electric generating unit; and
(3) Efficiency and other measures that can be undertaken at each coal-fired electric generating unit to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the unit without switching from coal to other fuels, cofiring other fuels with coal, or limiting the utilization of the unit.
(c) Standards of performance for natural gas-fired electric generating units. -- Except as provided in subsection (d), the standard of performance established for existing gas-fired electric generating units under subsection (a) shall be based upon:
(1) The best system of emission reduction which, taking into account the cost of achieving the reduction and any nonair quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements, has been adequately demonstrated for natural gas-fired electric generating units that are subject to the standard of performance;
(2) Reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide that can reasonably be achieved through measures undertaken at each natural gas-fired electric generating unit; and
(3) Efficiency and other measures that can be undertaken at the unit to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the unit without switching from natural gas to other lower-carbon fuels or limiting the utilization of the unit.
(d) Adjusting standards of performance. -- In establishing a standard of performance under subsection (a) for any existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit, the Department of Environmental Protection shall consider in all cases whether to adopt less stringent standards or longer compliance schedules than those provided in applicable federal rules or guidelines based on the following:
(1) Consumer impacts, including any disproportionate impacts of energy price increases on lower income populations;
(2) Unreasonable cost of reducing emissions resulting from plant age, location, or basic process design;
(3) Physical difficulties with or impossibility of implementing emission reduction measures;
(4) The absolute cost of applying the performance standard to the unit;
(5) The expected remaining useful life of the unit;
(6) The economic impacts of closing the unit, including expected job losses, if the unit is unable to comply with the performance standard; and
(7) Any other factors specific to the unit that make application of a less stringent standard or longer compliance schedule more reasonable.
(e) Implementing standards of performance. -- The Department of Environmental Protection may implement, to the maximum extent permissible, the standards of performance established under subsection (a) through regulatory mechanisms that provide flexibility in complying with the standards, including the averaging of emissions, emissions trading, or other alternative implementation measures that are determined to further the interests of West Virginia and its citizens.
(f) State plan requirement. -- The Department of Environmental Protection shall not propose or submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency any plan establishing standards of performance for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units that is inconsistent with this law.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish separate standards of performance for carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired electric generating units and natural gas-fired electric generating units.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.
