Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 20, 2013 02:44 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Chris Ross and Rep. Bryan Cutler |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Pollution Control Requirements for Demand Response Generators |
| Pennsylvania has made great strides to promote clean demand response (DR) programs, where users of energy are paid a premium to reduce their power usage in response to electricity grid needs. Unfortunately, over 18 percent of the DR market is being supplied by backup generators, 93 percent of which are diesel powered and likely have no pollution controls. This results in reduced economic opportunities for both clean DR and traditional power generation resources that have invested in modern pollution controls. It also leads to pollution releases on some of the worst air quality days of the year. The legislation we intend to introduce would correct these economic and environmental issues by requiring backup generators that participate in profitable DR programs to: 1) register with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) every five years and certify compliance with emissions limits, 2) report annually on operations, and 3) meet reasonably achievable emissions limits. The law establishes a streamlined process for compliance that avoids a complicated permitting system, and also ensures DEP generates funds to administer the program through a modest $40 registration fee, collected once every five years. To clarify, this bill does not place any new administrative or pollution control requirements on generators that are used only for true emergencies (e.g. loss of power), and it exempts generators located at residences, fire stations and nuclear power plants. Please join us in cosponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1699