Proposed Rule Details
The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed regulating mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants in two phases.
Phase I
Time Period: January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2014
Emissions Limit: 746 pounds of mercury pollution distributed among 13 coal-fired power plants (see below). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allotted New York State 784 pounds of mercury pollution. DEC kept 5% in case new facilities are built in New York during this time. DEC has estimated this as a 50% reduction from current pollution levels, but another analysis found the reductions to be less rigorous. (1)
Facility |
Mercury Limit (lb/year) |
AES Cayuga (Milliken) |
73.0 |
AES Greenidge |
35.0 |
AES Somerset (Kintigh ) |
151.0 |
AES Westover (Goudey) |
30.0 |
Huntley Power |
110.0 |
Dunkirk |
106.0 |
Dynegy Danskammer |
72.0 |
Lovett Generating Station |
64.0 |
Rochester 7 - Russell Station |
48.0 |
S A Carlson |
8.0 |
Trigen Energy - Syracuse |
21.0 |
WPS Niagara Generation |
12.0 |
Black River Generation, LLC |
16.0 |
Total |
746.0 |
Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Proposed 6 NYCRR Part 246, Mercury Reduction Program for Coal-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units. Table 1 (pages 15-16). September 6, 2006
Phase II
Time Period - January 1, 2015 on
Emissions Limit - 0.6 pounds mercury per trillion Btu (heat input) at each unit of a coal-fired power plant. DEC estimates this limit to be a 90% reduction in mercury pollution. Other states' 90% reduction limits yielded similar results.
Additional information can also be found on the DEC's website
Comparing the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation’s proposed mercury phase I limits to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Internal Calibration Register 1999 Data, showed a 27% decrease in pollution.
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Background 
Impacts of Power Plant Pollution Efficiency and Conservation
Renewable Energy
Building New Power Plants Green Electricity
Federal Energy Issues Clean Air Enforcement Project support NYPIRG
