OH HB506

Director of Environmental Protection must adopt rules establishing carbon dioxide emission standards for existing coal-fired and natural gas-fired electric generating units if the EPA adopts regulations or issues guidelines under Clean Air Act Section 111(d).

Coal-fired unit standards must be based on best demonstrated emission reduction systems, reductions achievable at individual units, and efficiency measures that do not require switching fuels, co-firing, or limiting economic utilization.

Natural gas-fired unit standards must be based on best demonstrated emission reduction systems, reductions achievable at individual units, and efficiency measures that do not require switching fuels or limiting economic utilization.

Director may adopt less stringent standards or longer compliance schedules based on consumer impacts, unreasonable costs, physical implementation difficulties, unit age and design, expected remaining life, job losses, grid reliability impacts, and actual emissions reductions since January 1, 2005.

Plans must be developed in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission and Ohio Air Quality Development Authority to ensure electric power affordability, minimize cost and reliability impacts, and cease operation if applicable EPA regulations or guidelines are withdrawn or invalidated by courts.