In May of 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to strengthen limits on emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coal-fired power plants. Since EPA finalized the original limits in 2011, there have been developments in air pollution control technologies and practices that warrant more-protective standards on emissions of metals, mercury, and acid gases from these sources. This analysis examines the cost-effectiveness of adopting a more stringent limit on metals emissions, a more comprehensive update of the mercury standards, and a significantly lower limit on emissions of acid gases. It concludes that these revisions to the current regulation – along with improved and consistent emissions monitoring – would be cost-effective, and that the strengthened standards could be met within three years of rule finalization.
Author: Andover Technology Partners (James Staudt)
This resource was commissioned by or produced by staff of the Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy before the organization rebranded as Ridgeline Center for Law and Policy in 2026.