42 U.S.C. § 8352: Permanent exemptions

Summary

Grants permanent exceptions to the fuel-use bans for powerplants when specific conditions are met. The Secretary must allow use of natural gas or petroleum if the plant shows that, after trying in good faith, a reliable supply of coal or other fuels of the needed quality will not be available at a cost that does not substantially exceed the cost of using imported petroleum over the plant’s remaining life, or if site limits or environmental rules prevent using coal. A plant already exempt under subsection (g) cannot get this same exemption. The Secretary may also grant exemptions if state or local rules (like building codes or zoning) make coal use infeasible and no other exemption fits, or if a cogeneration plant shows it cannot get the economic benefits without gas or petroleum (the order must state the reason). Exemptions must be given for plants using small mixes of gas or petroleum with coal when the fossil fuel share does not exceed the minimum needed for reliable, reasonably efficient operation under the Secretary’s rules; the Secretary can allow a higher share when mixed with certain synthetic fuels. Exemptions must be granted for plants kept only for emergencies. The Secretary must grant exemptions for peakload plants if they run only at peak times, denying relief would harm reliability, and changing the plant to comply is technically infeasible or unreasonably expensive. The Secretary may grant petroleum use exemptions for intermediate-load plants if the EPA or state agency certifies coal would cause or add to air quality standard violations, the plant only replaces equivalent capacity of existing gas or petroleum plants owned by the same owner, it will remain an intermediate-load plant, its net fuel heat input stays at or below 9,500 Btu per kilowatt-hour for its remaining life, and it can use synthetic fuels. The Secretary will review and end such exemptions if suitable synthetic fuel becomes available. The Secretary must allow natural gas use for plants designed to burn less than 250 million Btu per hour that were baseload on April 20, 1977 and cannot burn coal without major modification or big capacity loss; that exemption only covers certain earlier prohibitions and rules in effect before January 1, 1990. The Secretary must allow liquefied natural gas if the EPA or state agency certifies coal use would cause or contribute to a violation of national air quality standards and coal would not meet environmental rules.

Title 42, §8352

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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

(1)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 for the use of 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 fuels of the quality necessary to conform with design and operational requirements for use as a primary energy source will not be available to such powerplant 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 using imported petroleum as a primary energy source during the remaining useful life of the powerplant;

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

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

(2)Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, a powerplant which has been granted an exemption under subsection (g) may not be granted an exemption under this subsection.

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

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 may, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(1)with respect to the site of the powerplant, the operation of such a facility using coal or any other alternate fuel is infeasible because of a State or local requirement;

(2)if such State or local requirement is under a building code or nuisance or zoning law, no other exemption under this part could be granted for such facility; 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, 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 fuel mixtures containing natural gas or petroleum

(1)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, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(A)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

(B)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 the unit consistent with maintaining a reasonable level of fuel efficiency, as determined in accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary.

(2)Repealed. Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(A), May 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 313.

(3)The Secretary may authorize a higher percentage than that referred to in paragraph (1)(B) if he finds that the higher percentage of natural gas allowed would be mixed with synthetic fuels derived from municipal wastes or agricultural wastes and would encourage the use of alternate or new technologies which use renewable sources of energy.

(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, 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 peakload powerplants

(1)the powerplant is operated solely as a peakload powerplant;

(2)a denial of such petition is likely to result in an impairment of reliability of service; and

(3)(A)modification of the powerplant to permit compliance with such prohibitions is technically infeasible; or

(B)such modification would result in an unreasonable expense.

(g)Permanent exemption for intermediate load powerplants

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

(A)the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (or the appropriate State air pollution control agency) certifies to the Secretary that the use by such powerplant of coal or any available alternate fuel as a primary energy source will cause or contribute to a concentration, in an air quality control region or any area within such region, of a pollutant for which any national ambient air quality standard is or would be exceeded for such area;

(B)such powerplant is to be operated only to replace no more than the equivalent capacity of existing electric powerplants—

(i)which use natural gas or petroleum as a primary energy source,

(ii)which are owned by the same person who is to operate such powerplant, and

(iii)which, if they used coal as a primary energy source, would cause or contribute to such a concentration in such region;

(C)such powerplant is and shall continue to be operated solely as an intermediate load powerplant;

(D)the net fuel heat input rate for such powerplant will be maintained at or less than 9,500 Btu’s per kilowatt hour throughout the remaining useful life of the powerplant; and

(E)the powerplant has the capability to use synthetic fuels derived from coal or other alternate fuel.

(2)The Secretary shall, from time to time, review each exemption granted to a powerplant under this subsection, and shall terminate such exemption if he finds that there is available a supply of synthetic fuel derived from coal or other alternate fuel suitable for use as a primary energy source by such powerplant.

(h)Permanent exemption for use of natural gas by certain powerplants with capacities of less than 250 million Btu’s per hour

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), after consideration of a petition (and comments thereon) for an exemption from any prohibition of part A for the use of natural gas by a powerplant, the Secretary shall, by order, grant a permanent exemption under this subsection for such use, if he finds that the petitioner has demonstrated that—

(A)such powerplant has a design capability of consuming fuel (or any mixture thereof) at a fuel heat input rate of less than 250 million Btu’s per hour;

(B)such powerplant was a baseload powerplant on April 20, 1977; and

(C)such powerplant is not capable of consuming coal without—

(i)substantial physical modification of the unit; or

(ii)substantial reduction in the rated capacity of the unit (as determined by the Secretary).

(2)An exemption under this subsection may only apply to the prohibitions under section 8341 of this title and prohibitions established by final rules or orders issued before January 1, 1990.

(i)Permanent exemption for use of LNG by certain powerplants

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 for the use of liquefied natural gas if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (or the appropriate State air pollution control agency) has certified to the Secretary that the use of coal by such powerplant as a primary energy source will cause or contribute to a concentration, in an air quality control region or any area within such region, of a pollutant for which any national ambient air quality standard is or would be exceeded for such region or area and the use of coal would not comply with applicable environmental requirements.

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—Subsecs. (a)(1), (b), (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(10), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” wherever appearing. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(A), struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “In the case of an existing major fuel-burning installation, the percentage determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall not be less than 25 percent.” Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(B), substituted “The” for “In the case of an existing electric powerplant, the”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(10), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” wherever appearing. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(C), struck out subsec. (j) which related to granting, by Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of natural gas for installations served by international pipelines. Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(C), struck out subsec. (k) which related to granting, by Secretary of Energy, of permanent exemptions for use of natural gas or petroleum for installations based upon product or process requirements. Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(12)(C), struck out subsec. (l) which related to granting, by 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.

§8352 Permanent Exemptions