WASHINGTON — On Dec. 20, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized adjustments to Clean Air Act standards, originally released in March 2011, for boilers and certain solid waste incinerators. The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters (known as Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology or MACT), sets standards to cut emissions of hazardous air pollutants, such as mercury, dioxin, and lead, from large boilers in a range of industrial facilities and institutions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has now announced that it will offer technical assistance to affected facilities currently burning coal or oil, highlighting strategies such as natural gas combined heat and power (CHP), as well as more efficient boilers, that will both cut pollution and reduce operating costs.

DOE will provide site-specific technical and cost information to the major source facilities currently burning coal or oil through its regional Clean Energy Application Centers (CEACs). The CEACs will visit these facilities to discuss strategies for compliance, as well as provide information on potential funding and financing opportunities available for such things as CHP, controls, high-efficiency boilers, and energy efficiency assessments. Facilities that make use of this technical assistance then have the opportunity to develop strategies to comply with the regulations while improving their bottom line.

DOE has been conducting a pilot of the technical assistance program in Ohio since March 2012 in partnership with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The pilot program has engaged with a variety of industrial and energy efficiency stakeholders in the state and has effectively connected affected facilities with cleaner solutions.

For more information on the DOE technical assistance program, click here.

For information on available local, state, federal, and utility financial incentives to assist facilities with the costs of investing in boiler replacements, boiler tune-ups, CHP, controls, energy efficiency assessments, and energy efficiency measures, click here.

Publication date: 12/31/2012