8 June 2010 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards which would classify biomass boiler units, conventionally considered multi-fuel boilers, as incinerators and would be subject to new emission limits for mercury, hydrogen chloride, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and dioxin. The new proposed ruling is originally part of the Clean Air Act of 1990.
The Biomass Power Association (BPA), a group of 80 plants in 20 states, voiced their concerns during a June 8 teleconference from Washington D.C. BPA President Bob Cleaves said that boilers used by industrial, commercial and institutional facilities use various fuels and the fuels are used to generate various forms of energy such as steam, heat and electricity to be used in manufacturing or the generation of power that is sent to the grid.
If the new rule is enacted, Cleaves believes that 100 percent of boilers in the U.S. will have to do more work emitting less pollutants even though they are currently well controlled. Early estimates have shown that it could cost the biomass industry up to $7 billion to comply with EPA’s new standards.
“The end result of this rule is that EPA is going to require what we think will be very, very expensive technology, if in fact technology can be installed to achieve levels for these air emission standards,” said Cleaves. “As it relates to the biomass industry specifically, early indications from our members are that the standards are probably unachievable if using existing technology, and certainly unachievable if you apply any measure of economic rationality.”
But the new ruling would not affect just the biomass industry if enacted.
“We think virtually every industry in the U.S., across a wide array of sectors, are going to be impacted whether it is universities, small municipalities, food processors, furniture makers, federal facilities and the list goes on and on,” said Cleaves.
Using the state of California and biomass specifically as an example, Cleaves said that without biomass plants in the state the agriculture waste being used at biomass plants would be burned in an open fashion or diverted to landfills, which could cause more methane and unregulated particulate emissions.
Cleaves said that the EPA should adopt rules that are both health based and achievable or there is no future for biomass technology in the U.S.
“We are completely confident that if this rule is enacted, as drafted, not only will it frustrate Congress’ goal of adopting more renewable energy, but we will probably lose ground, plants will close and even less of our power will come from renewable energy than it does today.”
As for new plants being developed, BPA thinks that if the MACT ruling is enacted, all development will be halted.
EPA will issue a final ruling after a 45-day public comment period that began on June 7.
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