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EPA issues first National Standards for mercury and air toxics pollution from power plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), the first national standards for power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollutants (also known as hazardous air pollutants, HAPs) such as arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide.

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EIA: US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2012 lowest since 1994; reflects drop in coal use

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US energy-related CO 2 emissions in 2012 were the lowest since 1994, at 5.3 With the exception of 2010, emissions have declined every year since 2007. The largest drop in emissions in 2012 came from coal, which is used almost exclusively for electricity generation. Duke study.

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UN: global e-waste surging; up 21% in 5 years

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The new report also predicts that global e-waste (discarded products with a battery or electrical plug) will reach 74 Mt by 2030—almost a doubling of e-waste tonnage in just 16 years. of global greenhouse gas emissions. In per capita terms, last year’s discarded e-waste averaged 7.3 kg per capita. kg and 2.5

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EPA proposes CO2 emission standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed Clean Air Act standards to reduce CO 2 emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants (electric utility generating units, EGUs). The proposed rulemaking establishes separate standards for natural gas and coal plants.

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Duke study finds China’s synthetic natural gas plants will have heavy environmental toll; 2x vehicle GHG if used for fuel

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Coal-powered synthetic natural gas (SNG) plants being planned in China would produce seven times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas plants, and use up to 100 times the water as shale gas production, according to a new study by Duke University researchers published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

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One possible scenario for the electricity system in the Western US in 2026-29. Their analysis also found that current renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are insufficient to meet emission reduction targets by 2030 without new policy. Click to enlarge. To meet these carbon goals, coal has to go away from the region.

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Texas utility signs first US Power Purchase Agreement for low-emissions electricity from commercial-scale coal-fired power plant with carbon capture

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The 400-MW TCEP plant is an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) poly-generation facility capable of capturing 90% of the carbon dioxide it produces, as well as 99% of sulfur dioxide, 90% of nitrogen oxide, and 99% of mercury. The hydrogen will be combusted in an advanced combustion turbine, producing a carbon-free flue gas.

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