42 U.S.C. § 8322: Permanent exemptions

Summary

The Secretary reviews petitions and public comments and can grant permanent permission for a powerplant to use natural gas or oil instead of the banned fuels. The Secretary must grant an exemption if the petitioner shows, despite trying hard in good faith, that one of these is true: a suitable supply of coal or other alternate fuel will not be available within the first 10 years of the plant’s life or will be so costly (including transport and use costs) that, by the Secretary’s rules and best estimates, it would substantially exceed the alternative; site limits prevent locating or operating the plant on coal or another fuel; using coal would violate environmental rules; or needing coal would keep the petitioner from getting enough money to build the plant. The petitioner must make this case for the chosen site and for reasonable alternate sites. The Secretary may (but does not have to) grant exemptions in other cases. These include state or local rules (not counting building codes, nuisance laws, or zoning) that make using coal infeasible at the site, when no reasonable alternate site meets the earlier tests and the exemption is in the public interest; cogeneration plants when gas or oil are needed to get the economic or other benefits (the Secretary must explain the finding); plants using a mix of fuels when the gas or oil share does not exceed the minimum percentage of the plant’s total Btu heat input needed for reliable, reasonably efficient operation (set by the Secretary’s rules); emergency-only plants shown to be used only for emergencies; and cases needed to prevent loss of service when the petitioner cannot meet the (a) or (b) tests in time despite diligent efforts.

Title 42, §8322

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(a)Permanent exemption due to lack of alternate fuel supply, site limitations, environmental requirements, or adequate capital

(1)After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption for a powerplant from the prohibitions of part A, the Secretary shall, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that despite diligent good faith efforts—

(A)it is likely that an adequate and reliable supply of coal or other alternate fuel of the quality necessary to conform with design and operational requirements for use as a primary energy source (i) will not be available within the first 10 years of the useful life of the powerplant, or (ii) will not be available at a cost (taking into account associated facilities for the transportation and use of such fuel) which, based upon the best practicable estimates, does not substantially exceed the cost, as determined by rule by the Secretary, of the fuel that would be used as a primary energy source during the useful life of the powerplant involved;

(B)one or more site limitations exist which would not permit the location or operation of such powerplant using coal or any other alternate fuel as a primary energy source;

(C)the prohibitions of part A could not be satisfied without violating applicable environmental requirements; or

(D)the required use of coal or any other alternate fuel would not allow the petitioner to obtain adequate capital for the financing of such powerplant.

(2)The demonstration required to be made by a petitioner under paragraph (1) shall be made with respect to the site of such powerplant and reasonable alternative sites.

(b)Permanent exemption due to certain State or local requirements

After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption for a powerplant from the prohibitions of part A, the Secretary may, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(1)with respect to the proposed site of the powerplant, the construction or operation of such a facility using coal or any other alternate fuel is infeasible because of a State or local requirement (other than a building code or a nuisance or zoning law);

(2)there is no reasonable alternative site for such powerplant which meets the criteria set forth in subsection (a)(1)(A) through (D); and

(3)the granting of the exemption would be in the public interest and would be consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(c)Permanent exemption for cogeneration

After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption from one or more of the prohibitions of part A for a cogeneration facility, the Secretary may, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum, if he—

(1)finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that economic and other benefits of cogeneration are unobtainable unless petroleum or natural gas, or both, are used in such facility, and

(2)includes in the final order a statement of the basis for such finding.

(d)Permanent exemption for certain mixtures containing natural gas or petroleum

After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption for a powerplant from the prohibitions of part A, the Secretary shall, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(1)the powerplant uses, or proposes to use, a mixture of petroleum or natural gas and coal or another alternate fuel as a primary energy source; and

(2)the amount of the petroleum or natural gas used in such mixture will not exceed the minimum percentage of the total Btu heat input of the primary energy sources of such powerplant needed to maintain reliability of operation of such powerplant consistent with maintaining a reasonable level of fuel efficiency, as determined in accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary.

(e)Permanent exemption for emergency purposes

After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption from one or more of the prohibitions of part A for a powerplant, the Secretary shall, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that such powerplant will be maintained and operated only for emergency purposes (as defined by rule by the Secretary).

(f)Permanent exemption for powerplants necessary to maintain reliability of service

After consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption for a powerplant from one or more of the prohibitions of part A, the Secretary may, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection with respect to natural gas or petroleum if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(1)such exemption is necessary to prevent impairment of reliability of service, and

(2)the petitioner, despite diligent good faith efforts, is not able to make the demonstration necessary to obtain an exemption under subsection (a) or (b) in the time required to prevent such impairment of service.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–620, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3289, known as the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 8301 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(A)–(C), substituted “from” for “or installation from one or more of” in introductory provisions, substituted “the fuel that would be used” for “using imported petroleum” and struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” wherever appearing in subpar. (A), and struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” in subpars. (B) and (D). Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(1)(D), struck out “— “(A) in the case of a new major fuel-burning installation, be made with respect to the site of such installation proposed by the petitioner; and “(B) in the case of a new electric powerplant,” after “paragraph (1) shall”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(E), struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, a powerplant which has been granted an exemption under subsection (h) may not be granted an exemption under this subsection.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(A), (B), (F), in introductory provisions substituted “from” for “or installation from one or more of”, in par. (1) struck out “or installation” after “powerplant”, and in par. (2) struck out “in the case of a powerplant,” after “(2)”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(A), (B), (G), struck out “(1)” before “After consideration of”, substituted “from” for “installation from one or more of” in introductory provisions, redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) of former par. (1) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” wherever appearing in such pars., and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “In the case of a new major fuel-burning installation, the percentage determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall not be less than 25 percent.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(B), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” wherever appearing. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(H), struck out subsec. (g) which related to issuance, by order of Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of natural gas or petroleum for peakload powerplants. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(H), struck out subsec. (h) which related to issuance, by order of Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of petroleum for intermediate load powerplants. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(H), struck out subsec. (i) which related to issuance, by order of Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of natural gas or petroleum for installations based upon product or process requirements. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(6)(H), struck out subsec. (j) which related to issuance, by order of Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of natural gas or petroleum for installations necessary to meet scheduled equipment outages.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Exemption for Certain Electric Powerplants as Effective Prior to 180 Days After November 9, 1978For effectiveness of exemption for certain electric powerplants as prior to 180 days after Nov. 9, 1978, see section 902(a) of Pub. L. 95–620, set out as a note under section 8301 of this title.

§8322 Permanent Exemptions