Wyoming Air Quality Plan Approval
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Wyoming on December 30, 2022, and supplemented on August 31, 2023, and November 16, 2023, addressing regional haze for Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2 (Wyoming 2022 SIP revision). Wyoming's 2022 SIP revision provides oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) emission and heat input limits that collectively allow for identical reasonable progress as part of the long term strategy during the first implementation period as the associated emission limits in the existing SIP for Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2. The EPA is also approving monthly and annual NO<INF>X</INF> and sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) emission limits for Jim Bridger Units 1 through 4 that were included in Wyoming's 2022 SIP revision. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).
Compliance Requirements
- #1
NO X emission limits of 0.12 lb/MMBtu (30-day rolling average) and annual NOx limits of 1,314 tons/year for each unit, and a heat input limit of 21,900,000 MMBtu/year per unit by January 1, 2024; NO X and SO 2 monthly and annual emission limits for Jim Bridger Units 1-4; Compliance with NO X emission limit of 0.26 lb/MMBtu and PM emission limit of 0.03 lb/MMBtu by March 4, 2019; Compliance with NO X emission limit of 0.07 lb/MMBtu by December 31, 2015, for Unit 3, and December 31, 2016, for Unit 4
Deadline: 2024-01-01(January 1, 2024)
Market Impacts
Implementation of NO X emission limits of 0.12 lb/MMBtu and annual NO X limits of 1,314 tons/year for Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2, along with a heat input limit of 21,900,000 MMBtu/year per unit.; Demand for monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting technologies and services increases due to new compliance requirements.; Implementation of monthly and annual NO X and SO 2 emission limits for Jim Bridger Units 1-4, with an annual, plant-wide NO X plus SO 2 emissions cap of 17,500 tons per year.
Validated Company Impacts
Duke Energy CORP
Duke Energy operates electric utilities and power generation facilities, which aligns with the electric power generation market targeted by this rule. However, the rule specifically applies only to Jim Bridger Units 1-4 in Wyoming, while Duke Energy operates primarily in the Southeast and Midwest regions with no indication of operations at the Jim Bridger facility. The rule directly aligns with the company's regulatory compliance risks, specifically addressing EPA Rule 111 Impact and Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation risks through NOx and SO2 emission limits for power generation units. The compliance requirements for emission monitoring and reporting also create operational impacts that match the company's identified generation portfolio and operational risks.
SOUTHERN CO
Southern Company operates electric utilities and power generation assets, which aligns with the electric power generation market targeted by this rule. However, the rule specifically applies to Jim Bridger Units 1-4 in Wyoming, while Southern Company operates primarily in the Southeast US with no indication of operations in Wyoming or ownership of the affected facilities. The rule directly addresses the company's top risk factor 'Environmental Regulations' by imposing specific emission limits and compliance requirements that would require significant operational adjustments and compliance costs. The rule's focus on NOx and SO2 emissions aligns perfectly with environmental regulatory risks in power generation operations.
AVISTA CORP
Avista Corp operates as an electric and natural gas utility primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, but this specific EPA rule targets NOx and SO2 emission limits exclusively for the Jim Bridger power plant units in Wyoming, which are owned by PacifiCorp. There is no indication that Avista owns or operates any facilities subject to these specific Wyoming regional haze requirements. The rule directly addresses the company's Utility Regulatory Risk through specific emission compliance requirements for power generation units, aligns with Operational and Event Risks by imposing operational limits that could affect plant performance, and connects to Climate Change Risk through NOx and SO2 emission controls that mitigate environmental impacts.
NEXTERA ENERGY INC
NextEra Energy operates in electric power generation and wholesale energy markets, which aligns with the rule's focus on power plants, but the specific emission limits and compliance requirements target only the Jim Bridger Units 1-4 in Wyoming, which are owned by PacifiCorp, not NextEra. NextEra's operations are not directly subject to this rule's jurisdiction or requirements. The rule's emission compliance requirements directly align with the company's Environmental Compliance Costs risk, which specifically mentions increased capital expenditures and operating costs from environmental regulations. The rule also overlaps with Regulatory and Legislative Changes risk as it represents a specific regulatory action that could materially affect operations, and with Project Development Restrictions risk given the operational constraints imposed by emission limits.
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc.
NorthWestern Energy operates as an electric utility in Montana and South Dakota, which involves power generation that could be subject to air quality regulations like regional haze plans. However, the specific rule targets only Jim Bridger Units 1-4 in Wyoming, operated by PacifiCorp, with no indication that NorthWestern Energy owns or operates these facilities or similar ones in the affected jurisdiction. The rule's environmental compliance requirements for NOx and SO2 emissions directly align with the company's identified environmental compliance costs risk, which could affect financial position and operations. The regulatory nature of the rule also matches the company's changing laws and regulations risk, indicating strong overlap with their risk profile.