The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed on Friday to tighten limits on nitrogen oxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants as part of its efforts to reduce pollutants.
The EPA said the rule will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from “most new, modified, and reconstructed” fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines built at power plants and industrial facilities.
Nitrogen oxides can form smog when they react with other volatile organic compounds, and high exposure to these gases can lead to asthma and respiratory infections.
The agency estimates that the proposed rule could reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 198 tons in 2027 and 2,659 tons in 2032, with expected net benefits of up to $46.4 million per year, although it doesn’t break down where the cost savings originate….