[author: Heidi Slinkard Brasher]

The EPA published its proposed rule regarding carbon dioxide emissions for new fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units (EGUs) in the Friday, April 13, 2012 Federal Register (77 Fed. Reg. 22392).

Under the proposed rule, only new sources which utilize fossil fuel-fired EGUs at greater than 25 megawatt electric (MWe) are required to meet the output-based standard of 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatthour (lb CO2/MWh), based on natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) technology. The proposed standard may be met either by use of carbon capture and storage of 50% of the CO2 in the exhaust gas at startup, or through use of 30-year averaging.

Comments on the proposed rule must be made by June 18, 2012. All comments should reference Docket Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-1022-0660.

• The EPA’s proposed emissions rule can be found here