Emergency generators must report to EPA by March 31

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Emergency generators must report to EPA by March 31

March 3, 2016

The American Public Power Association (APPA) March 3 reminded owners of emergency generators used in emergency demand response programs, or operated to respond to local reliability, electrical grid voltage, or deviation issues, that they are required to submit an electronic report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by March 31, 2016.  

Owners of emergency engines greater than 100 horsepower (HP) operated or contractually obligated to be available greater than 15 hours/year for emergency demand response or voltage or frequency deviations, or operated for local reliability (as specified in 40 CFR Part 63.6640(f), 60.4211(f), and 60.4243(d)) must submit an annual report electronically through the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI) accessed through EPA’s Central Data Exchange at https://www.epa.gov/cdx.  The annual report must cover 2015 operations and include the information specified in 63.6650(h), 60.4214(d), or 60.4245(e)). For more information, go to: http://www3.epa.gov/ttn/atw/icengines/

On May 1, 2015, the D.C. Circuit vacated provisions of the reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) rule allowing RICE engines to operate for up to 50 hours per year to mitigate local transmission and/or distribution limitations in a local area or region.  The DC Circuit subsequently granted EPA’s request for a voluntary remand of these provisions to EPA. APPA Regulatory Affairs and Engineering Services staff continues to work with stakeholders to explore approaches that would allow limited emergency operations for reliability reasons, as EPA moves toward issuing a new proposed rulemaking. We anticipate EPA will issue a draft rule in the Spring of 2016. APPA plans to comment on the proposed rule once it is issued.