News Releases - 2003

Illinois EPA Announces New Pollution Control Requirements for Electric Generating Units

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois became the first state in the Midwest today to implement statewide regulations that will reduce, by 56 percent from most of the state's power plants, a major pollutant that contributes to smog formation during the summer "ozone season."

As a result of the regulations, 103 electric generating units across the state will reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides they put into the air by more than 63,000 tons -- the equivalent of all the nitrogen oxides put out by the more than 4.5 million on-road vehicles in the Chicago metro area.

"Illinois' leadership in implementing these regulations on power plants will have positive benefits for the health and environment of our citizens," said Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.

"These regulations and reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions are a major step in our effort to meet federal ground-level ozone standards in the Chicago and Metro East areas," added Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano.

Nitrogen oxides combined with volatile organic compounds react with sunlight to form ground-level ozone under certain weather conditions. High levels can aggravate respiratory conditions and cause other health problems.

Nitrogen oxides (NO x) from power plant and large industrial boiler stacks can also travel great distances and can impact ozone formation hundreds of miles away.

The new regulations affect all electrical generating units with a capacity of greater than 25 megawatts. Currently, there are 103 existing units in Illinois, owned by nine electric companies, that must meet these regulations.

The state-based rules, which take effect May 1, 2003, limit affected generating units to a rate less than or equivalent to 0.25 pounds of NOx per million British Thermal Units. On May 1, 2004, additional federal NOx regulations will go into effect for these same facilities, which will result in an average emission rate less than or equal to 0.15 lbs NOx/mmbtu. In contrast to the federal rules, which allows for regional trading, the Illinois rules that take effect today limit emissions averaging or trading to facilities within Illinois, which will ensure that the air quality benefit is fully realized within Illinois.

"Ensuring that the emission reductions take place solely in Illinois is part of our commitment to providing Illinois citizens with cleaner air," added Director Cipriano.