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Part I  
Part II 
Part III |
FAQ - General Facility Information (Part I) 7. What is an electric utility steam generating unit? Answer: The definition of an "electric utility steam generating unit" is provided in section 112(a)(8) of the Clean Air Act, as amended. Section 112(a)(8) states:
Units that provide electricity for use within the facility fence line (e.g., entity [industrial facility, university, military base] producing power only for their own consumption) are not considered to be electric utility steam generating units because they do not "...serve a generator that produces electricity for sale..." As a nominal equivalency, the Agency has used the following to equate nameplate heat input capacity with nameplate MWe potential: A unit with a heat input capacity of 250 million Btu/hour (MMBtu/hr) has an input capacity of 73 MWe and an output (generation) capacity of 25 MWe. That is, 10 MMBtu/hr heat input equal 1 MWe output.
Is the MWe sold based on a percentage or MWhr rate or MWe? Is it based on a gross or net basis? Is it based on any sporadic amount sold or only if the company has a contract to sell? Is it based on just the amount sold to another company and/or amount sold within their normal service territory? What period of time is the definition based on (e.g., per calendar year, per 3 year average following Title IV; 1997 [since 1998 is not completed yet])? Answer: The threshold of one-third of capacity and the threshold of 25 MWe are determined on a gross basis. Because the definition is worded "...supplies more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity...", we interpret the language to refer to a comparison between a unit's actual generation and its nameplate generation capability on a "gross" basis rather than on a "net" basis. For the purposes of this information collection effort, EPA believes that the determination of whether a unit which cogenerates steam and electricity is an electric utility steam generating unit should be based on the 30-day period in which the most electricity produced by steam from that unit was sold. If more than one-third of the unit's potential electric output capacity and more than 18,000 megawatt-hours electrical output (24 hours/day * 30 days * 25 megawatts) was sold during any 30-day period since December 31, 1994, the unit in question is an electric utility steam generating unit for purposes of this information collection effort. We believe that this interpretation is appropriate for purposes of this information collection effort because any unit from which that much power is sold in a 30-day period has demonstrated its capability to meet the definition. Any unit which does not currently meet the definition, but plans to operate in a manner which would meet the definition at any time during calendar year 1999 is considered an electric utility steam generating unit for the purposes of this information collection effort. It is recognized that the time period varies somewhat from that used under other Agency programs (e.g., Acid Rain). It is believed that this variation is appropriate for the purposes of this information collection effort. It does not indicate that any decision has been made on an applicability definition for the purposes of any regulation, should one be developed. The EPA interprets the definition to mean that the only electricity that counts against each threshold (i.e., greater than 25 MWe and greater than one-third of its potential electrical output capacity) is the electricity that is produced by the cogeneration unit and actually flows to the utility power distribution system from the interconnection of the cogeneration facility with such utility. Electricity that is produced by the cogeneration unit and used on-site by the electricity-consuming component of the cogeneration facility will not count against these thresholds, including electricity that is simultaneously purchased by the utility and sold back to such facility under purchase and sale agreements under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). As an example, let us assume a cogeneration unit with a potential electrical output capacity of 60 MWe. During a 30-day period (for the purposes of this information collection effort), 40 MWe (28,800 MWe-hrs) of the 60 MWe (43,200 MWe-hrs) of electricity were used on-site to operate process equipment and the remaining 20 MWe (14,400 MWe-hrs) of electricity were supplied to the utility power distribution system for sale. This unit is not an electric utility steam generating unit because the electricity counted against the thresholds does not exceed 25 MWe and is not more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity. The 40 MWe of electricity used on-site does not count against the thresholds, even if, as an accounting matter under PURPA, the cogeneration facility "sells" all 60 MWe of electricity to the utility and simultaneously "buys" 40 MWe back from that utility. In contrast, referring to the same 60 MWe cogeneration unit, let us assume that during a 30-day period (for the purposes of this information collection effort) 30 MWe (21,600 MWe-hrs) of the 60 MWe of electricity were used on-site for plant processes and 30 MWe were supplied to the utility. The cogeneration unit is an electric utility steam generating unit even if the cogeneration facility purchased, during peak operating periods, an additional 10 MWe (7,200 MWe-hrs) of electricity for the plant through the interconnection with the utility. In this case, the 10 MWe of electricity purchased from the utility are not netted against the 30 MWe of electricity supplied to the utility, and one or both thresholds are exceeded.
What is a "cogenerator?" Answer: A "cogenerator" is a unit that produces steam both for the generation of electricity and for some other productive use.
The facility has four boilers of sizes 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, and 23 MWe. Even if these four boilers are connected with a common steam header to steam turbines of 25 and 28.75 MWe, do the units meet the section 112(a)(8) definition? Answer: Because the section 112(a)(8) definition refers to the "combustion unit" rather than the electrical generator, the Agency interprets that these four boilers do not meet the definition.
A company currently owns 21 percent of a coal-fired power plant that is operated and partially owned by another company. Do we still need to submit forms for this plant or is that the responsibility of the operator? Answer: To ensure coverage of all applicable facilities, please submit the form for this facility. We will be able to cross-check to ensure that there is no double counting.
OMB Control Number 2060-0396 |