For Immediate Release For more information, contact:
December 11, 2002 Anne Reynolds, EANY: 518-462-5526 ext. 238
518-229-1539 (cell)
Jeff Jones, EANY: 518-265-0719 (cell)
Nathanael Greene, NRDC: 212-727-4482
Fred Zalcman, Pace: 914-422-4082
MICROPOWER AT THE CROSSROADS
NEW YORK
NEEDS POLLUTION STANDARDS FOR
SMALL ELECTRIC GENERATORS BY 2004
(Albany, NY) — On the eve of a state sponsored energy policy workshop, environmentalists and public health advocates released a report today titled Micropower at the Crossroads: Public Health and the Future of Distributed Generation. The report describes the pressing environmental and health issues associated with small sources of power and details the great potential for New York to reap economic benefits by setting tough emission standards and pushing clean technologies. The group called on the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue tight emission standards and create incentives for the cleanest technologies, including combined heat and power systems, fuel cells, photovoltaics, and wind turbines. The report provides examples of these applications in New York.
Micropower, also known as distributed generation (DG), is the production of electricity by businesses or homeowners near where it is to be used as an alternative or supplement to power from big central power plants. This is a growing sector in the energy market. However, many of these small generators are not subject to pollution standards; nor are their owners required to obtain permits from air regulators. Predominately used in the past for emergencies only, these generators are increasingly run to respond to high prices or peak demand.
“We have produced this report to point the way to a clean energy future,” said Anne Reynolds, air and energy project director of Environmental Advocates of New York. “Micropower is at a crossroads, and DEC has an opportunity to promote clean technologies and not allow small, dirty generators to proliferate and pollute the air.”
New York is the third state, after Texas and California, to tackle the regulation of micropower pollution. “DEC deserves praise for recognizing the importance of micropower emissions and discussing ways to control pollution from both new and existing sources,” said Nathanael Greene of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We look forward to working with DEC to make sure that the final rules encourage fuel efficiency and drive micropower to be as clean possible. The rules need to be user-friendly for micropower customers and for regulators, since these units may some day be as common as boilers.”
In May 2001, DEC announced its intention to set standards for micropower technologies, but has not yet published draft rules. Tomorrow (December 12, 2002), DEC will present a series of white papers, laying out the agency’s proposed approach to curbing emissions from micropower sources.
“Currently, micropower units are not subject to any standards, let alone the same air pollution controls as large central power plants,” said Fred Zalcman of the Pace University Law School Energy Project. “These small generators are being installed close to where people live, work, and play. Clearly, we need to have standards in place to encourage clean micropower and discourage polluting diesels.”
“As popularity of these generators grows, so will the health costs associated with the pollution they belch,” said Peter Iwanowicz, Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of New York State. “Governor Pataki needs to set new emission rules to ensure that lung health does not suffer as businesses and homeowners opt for micropower.”
The report, which can be found at Environmental Advocates’ website www.eany.org [or accessed directly here] includes the following policy recommendations to DEC:
Ø Set stringent emissions standards for all micropower units operated in New York The standards should be output-based to encourage efficiency of performance.
Ø Conduct a comprehensive inventory of existing micropower units and on-site generation.
Ø Streamline the permitting process for clean units that meet or beat new stringent standards.
Ø Ensure aggressive enforcement of standards and establish significant penalties for violations.
New York should have standards in place by Summer 2004 in order to influence the development of this market and to protect public health. Further, the state should provide funding for clean micropower and eliminate current hurdles to the implementation of clean micropower by reducing standby and exit fees imposed by utilities, using incentive tariffs, and streamlining interconnection rules.
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