Big cut in mercury emissions affordable

Big cut in mercury emissions affordable, wildlife group says

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Oct 19 (The Associated Press)

Pennsylvania's residential electricity customers would pay about a $1 per month more to pay for equipment to reduce mercury emissions from the state's coal-fired power plants by 90 percent, the National Wildlife Federation said.

In a report released Tuesday, the wildlife federation said the state's residential customers would pay $1.08 per month more on an average monthly bill of $79 to finance the improvements to the state's 36 coal-fired power plants.

Businesses would pay an extra $6.42 a month on an average monthly bill of $470 while the average industrial electricity bill of $7,870 would increase $107, the wildlife federation said.

Citing figures from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the federation said Pennsylvania is the third-largest emitter of mercury from power plants.

Electricity industry representatives contend that a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants may be technologically impossible because makers of pollution control equipment cannot guarantee such a result. Plus, they say, domestic power plant emissions account for only a small portion of mercury deposits in the United States.

The EPA has been considering a plan to craft the nation's first-ever rule to reduce mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants. The plan envisions a 70 percent cut in mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants by 2018, from the current 48 tons a year to 15 tons.

Environmental groups and some states, including Pennsylvania, have advocated a 90 percent cut by 2008. Eleven states, including Pennsylvania, have challenged the EPA's plan and said it would not stand up in court. Among other things, Rendell administration officials have said the EPA's plan would disproportionately damage the state's coal industry and its public health.

But in a letter last week to Gov. Ed Rendell, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt said a 90 percent reduction requirement "would cause significant disruptions in the nation's coal markets."

"The control technologies necessary to meet this level of reduction will not be adequately demonstrated on full-scale power plants burning every type of coal by 2010, much less 2008," Leavitt wrote.

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