ACE’ing Powerplant CO2 Regulations: The Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Proposed Rule

EPA’s acting administrator Andrew Wheeler released the proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule on August 20, 2018. The proposed ACE rule would replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP), which EPA proposed to repeal via Federal Register dated October 16, 2017. While the CPP represented a creative interpretation of the underlying Clean Air Act requirements and relied primarily on generation shifting to natural gas and renewables from coal for electricity generation, the proposed ACE rule approach is more consistent with prior §111(d) rulemakings and regulates via efficiency improvements at specific units.

In addition to providing a regulation to replace CPP, the proposed ACE rulemaking includes two additional components. One component involves updating the 40 CFR 60 Subpart B in a new 40 CFR 60 Subpart Ba, with updates to reflect the 1977 and 1990 CAA amendments and make other changes. The second component is a proposed optional NSR hourly emissions test trigger that states may choose to incorporate.

Join our presenters for a review of the three components of the proposed ACE rulemaking and a discussion on how they may impact future operations at your power generation facility.