Air Emission Regulations

Air emission policies act as clean energy policies because they require fossil power plants to install pollution control equipment, switch fuels, or take other measures to achieve compliance. Massachusetts has implemented stringent restrictions on releases of air pollutants by electricity generating facilities.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for enforcing federal laws and regulations relating to air quality and for monitoring air emissions from energy facilities located in the state. When necessary, it imposes stricter standards on local power plants in order to protect environmental and public health.

In 2001, the DEP adopted standards under 310 CMR 7.29 to limit pollutant releases by the Commonwealth's six highest-emitting power plants. These standards established stricter limits on emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, as well as the nation's first cap on emissions of mercury from coal-fired plants. They also implemented the nation's first regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

In 2004, an updated regulation was issued to further reduce mercury emissions from the four coal-burning plants located in Massachusetts, consistent with the state's "Zero Mercury Strategy" issued in 2000. This strategy aims for a 75% reduction in environmental releases of mercury within the Commonwealth by 2010 and a virtual elimination in releases of mercury from human activities over the long term.