EPA announced new mercury rules

Last month the EPA announced new rules for release of mercury and other pollutants from power plants. This will affect many power plants that presently exceed the new limits. The power companies that operate these plants will have to either install equipment to scrub the pollutants from the plants or shut down the plants. Many are expected to be shut down. Many coal burning power plants had already been shut down.

There are reports that the rules would cost utilities about $10 billion to install scrubbers on the plants (assuming that none are shut down). However, the EPA has said that the benefits, in reduced health costs, would far exceed the costs to the industry. The EPA estimates that the health cost savings would be between $59 billion and $140 billion.

Washington Post stories about the new regulations can be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-finalizes-tough-new-rules-on-emissions-by-power-plants/2011/12/16/gIQAc2WTzO_story.html and http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/environmental-protection-agency-issues-new-regulation-on-mercury/2011/12/21/gIQACNyOAP_story.html

A Charlotte Observer editorial on the subject can be found at: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/23/2869909/new-pollution-rules-tardy-and.html