Coal, Mercury and Pollution

EPA proposing mercury rule for taconite iron ore processing plants

Green Car Congress

MAY 12, 2023

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for taconite iron ore processing plants that include new emission standards for mercury as well as revising the existing emission standards for hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride.

Mercury

Mercury EPA Minnesota Exhaust

Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2013

At the conclusion of the International Negotiating Committee on Mercury ( INC5 ) meeting in Geneva ( earlier post ), nations agreed on a global, legally-binding treaty to prevent mercury emissions and releases. The scope of the new treaty which puts in controls and also reduction measures in respect to mercury is as follows: Products.

Mercury

Mercury Legal Emissions Global

In a first, the US will restrict existing coal-fired plants’ emissions

Baua Electric

APRIL 25, 2024

Trucks Haul Coal Navajo Mine by U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants to control 90% of their carbon emissions or shut down. Coal plants that intend to stay online beyond 2039 will have to cut or capture 90% of their CO2 emissions by 2032.

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

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 21, 2011

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.

Mercury

Mercury Pollution EPA Standards

U.N. Kills Any Plans to Use Mercury as a Rocket Propellant

Cars That Think

APRIL 19, 2022

A recent United Nations provision has banned the use of mercury in spacecraft propellant. Although no private company has actually used mercury propellant in a launched spacecraft, the possibility was alarming enough—and the dangers extreme enough—that the ban was enacted just a few years after one U.S.-based Mercury is a neurotoxin.

Mercury

Mercury Fusion United States IDEA

New analysis finds Asia produces twice as much mercury emissions as previously thought

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 12, 2015

New analysis by an international team led by MIT researchers shows that Asia now releases a surprisingly large amount of anthropogenic mercury. The new analysis provides more accurate estimates of sources of mercury emissions around the world. Noelle Selin, the Esther and Harold E.

Mercury

Mercury Asia Emissions Coal

US Awards $1B in Recovery Act Funding to FutureGen 2.0; Advanced Coal Repowering and CO2 Storage

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 5, 2010

an advanced coal repowering program and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage network. The plant’s new boiler, air separation unit, CO 2 purification and compression unit will deliver 90% CO 2 capture and eliminate most SO x , NO x , mercury, and particulate emissions. to build FutureGen 2.0,

Coal

Coal Mercury Illinois CO2

EPA’s 2011 Toxics Release Inventory shows air pollutants continue to decline, releases of toxic chemicals up

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2013

Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8% from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published today.

Pollution

Pollution 2011 EPA Waste

ORNL study identifies more biopathways for formation of toxic methylmercury

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 8, 2013

More forms of mercury can be converted to methylmercury—a form of mercury that can be taken into the food chain and eventually can result in mercury-contaminated fish—than previously thought, according to a study led by a team of researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) published in Nature Geoscience.

Mercury

Mercury Water Convert Coal

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

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

The proposed rulemaking establishes separate standards for natural gas and coal plants. coal units) are based on the performance of a new efficient coal unit implementing partial carbon capture and storage (CCS). 850mmBtu/h) natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO 2 per megawatt-hour.

EPA

EPA Standards Emissions Power

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

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

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. —Robert B.

Gas

Gas Mercury Climate Change Fuel

Equity: More important than ever

Electric Auto Association

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Endless studies on the impact of pollution and climate change on low-income families have all come up with the same general result: It is a very real and very serious problem. This proximity brings a greater risk of harm by higher levels of benzene , sulfuric acid , mercury , and other potentially dangerous substances.

Climate Change

Climate Change West Virginia Pollution Kansas City

BREAKING NEWS: EPA Head Lisa Jackson To Resign

Green Car Reports

DECEMBER 27, 2012

As well as setting standards to cut mercury and other toxins from coal power plant pollution and limits on the dumping of waste, Jackson has played a major part in reducing the emissions and.

Mercury

Mercury EPA Washington Coal

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

Green Car Congress

JUNE 12, 2021

Soot particles from oil and wood heating systems as well as road traffic can pollute the air in Europe on a much larger scale than previously assumed. The main sources were combustion emissions, probably from wood and coal-fired heating systems. Equivalent black carbon (eBC) represented 10% of the total particulate matter (PM).

Transportation

Transportation Germany Climate Change Climate

WHO attributes more than 1 in 4 deaths annually of children under 5 years to unhealthy environment

Green Car Congress

MARCH 6, 2017

WHO estimated in 2012 that 26% of childhood deaths and 25% of the total disease burden in children under five could be prevented through the reduction of environmental risks such as air pollution, unsafe water, sanitation and inadequate hygiene or chemicals. —“Don’t Pollute My Future”. The report, Don’t pollute my future!

Environment

Environment Pollution Water Waste

EPA report shows progress in reducing urban air toxics across US; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 22, 2014

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Second Integrated Urban Air Toxics Report to Congress—the final of two reports required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to inform Congress of progress in reducing public health risks from urban air toxics (also referred to as hazardous air pollutants or HAPs).

EPA

EPA Congress Pollution Gasoline-Electric

EPA proposes rule for nationwide 30% cut in GHG from existing power plants by 2030 relative to 2005

Green Car Congress

JUNE 2, 2014

Cutting particle pollution, nitrogen NO x , and SO x by more than 25% as a co-benefit. The value allocated here in EPA’s goal-setting formula was an average heat rate improvement of 6% for coal steam electric generating units (EGUs). mercury and hydrogen chloride), as well as ecosystem effects and visibility impairment.

2005

2005 EPA Power Powered

Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 13, 2013

Unintentional emission sectors: Coal burning, ferrous- and non-ferrous (Au, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) metal production, cement production. The fifth and final session of negotiations on the establishment of an international mercury convention—International Negotiating Committee on Mercury (INC5)—is taking place this coming week in Geneva.

Mercury

Mercury Emissions 2013 Global

GE Technology Selected for Hydrogen Energy IGCC Project in California

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2009

IGCC plants gasify solid fuels into syngas, which then is used by a gas turbine combined-cycle system to generate electricity, providing a cleaner, economical coal-to-power option. The technology proposed for the Hydrogen Energy California plant would convert petroleum coke, coal or a combination of each into syngas.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen California Energy Tampa

DOE to Award $2.4B in Funding for Carbon Capture, Storage and Reuse Projects

Green Car Congress

MAY 16, 2009

The Department is posting Notices of Intent to issue this funding, supporting the following initiatives: Clean Coal Power Initiative. million) : Funding will permit the existing algae-based carbon mitigation project to expand testing with a coal-based gasification system. Arizona Public Services Modification ($70.6

Carbon

Carbon Coal Mercury Arizona

PHEV Blowback

Plug In Partners

MARCH 3, 2008

Here is the headline and the lead: Plug-in cars could actually increase air pollution By James R. gasoline use but could increase deadly air pollution in some areas, two reports say. Mercury is toxic. " The fact is that plug-ins are an important opportunity for reducing pollution.

PHEV

PHEV EPRI Mercury USA

PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2013

Continuing substitution of gas for coal (and in some instances for oil) will remain an effective short- and middle-term decarbonization measure and an economic boon only insofar as methane leakage from production and transport is held to low levels and drinking water is not adversely impacted, PVCAST noted.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Obama Clean

DOE funding to boost carbon capture

Green Cars News

MAY 18, 2009

In addition, $70.6million will go to the Arizona Public Services Modification which will permit an algae based carbon mitigation project that will expand testing with a coal-based gasification system. Tags: Latest news clean coal power initiative Green cars US Department of Energy.

Carbon

Carbon Coal Mercury CO2

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 22, 2009

A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates, “hidden” costs of energy production and use—such as the damage air pollution imposes on human health—that are not reflected in market prices of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity and gasoline produced from them.

2005

2005 Cost Of Energy Coal

CalCars and PHEVs Frequently Asked Questions

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Dont PHEVs just shift pollution from gasoline cars to power plants? But its monumentally less pollution , even on the national (half-coal) grid. At the moment, only 2004-2007 Priuses , and to a limited extent, the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrids. And its easier to clean central power plants than millions of vehicles.

PHEV

PHEV Nickel Metal Hydride Prius EPRI

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

The objections they raised for years -- "no one is interested, no one would plug in, the technology is too complex, the benefits are minimal, its just shifting the pollution from the tailpipe to the smokestack, theres no demand for these cars" -- still show up occasionally, but are by and large history. San Jose Mercury News ).

Plug-in

Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV

EV Driven

EPA proposing mercury rule for taconite iron ore processing plants

Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

In a first, the US will restrict existing coal-fired plants’ emissions

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

U.N. Kills Any Plans to Use Mercury as a Rocket Propellant

New analysis finds Asia produces twice as much mercury emissions as previously thought

US Awards $1B in Recovery Act Funding to FutureGen 2.0; Advanced Coal Repowering and CO2 Storage

EPA’s 2011 Toxics Release Inventory shows air pollutants continue to decline, releases of toxic chemicals up

ORNL study identifies more biopathways for formation of toxic methylmercury

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

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

Equity: More important than ever

BREAKING NEWS: EPA Head Lisa Jackson To Resign

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

WHO attributes more than 1 in 4 deaths annually of children under 5 years to unhealthy environment

EPA report shows progress in reducing urban air toxics across US; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990

EPA proposes rule for nationwide 30% cut in GHG from existing power plants by 2030 relative to 2005

Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

GE Technology Selected for Hydrogen Energy IGCC Project in California

DOE to Award $2.4B in Funding for Carbon Capture, Storage and Reuse Projects

PHEV Blowback

PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

DOE funding to boost carbon capture

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

CalCars and PHEVs Frequently Asked Questions

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

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