Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will this Act increase my electricity bill?

A. Power plants may pass some initial costs associated with modernization onto the consumer. However, the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that over a 20-year period, consumers will end up paying less with energy-efficient power plants. It’s similar to buying a new energy-efficient refrigerator; initially, there is an expense, but, over the long-haul, you end up saving money. Moreover, power plants often qualify for federal grants for modernization and, as a result, consumers pay the same amount as they were spending before.

Q. So why are others saying my electricity bill will go up?

A. It is also important to note that the costs to power companies have been a fraction of what was predicted by industry lobbyists. In August 1990, the principal business lobby, known as the Clean Air Working Group, estimated that amendments would cost industry between $51 billion and $91 billion a year.(1) In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that compliance costs will be just $22 billion annually upon full implementation of the law in 2005 – 57% to 75% lower than industry calculated.(1)

Q. Where do the chemicals released by power plants come from?

A. Impurities present in coal and fuel oil are released into the environment when these fuels are burned by power plants.(2) Although coal is mostly carbon, it also contains a small percentage, by weight, of sulfur compounds, compounds containing chlorine and fluorine, and various metals.(2) While some coal is “cleaner” in that it has fewer impurities, all coal and fuel oil contain some impurities that create a variety of chemical substances when the fuel is burned.(2) These substances end up either as air pollutants or are present in the ash left over after fuel combustion.(2) They are also present in soot captured from the exhaust streams of smokestacks equipped with scrubbers or baghouses.(2)

Q. Why are dirty coal power plants still being used?

A. Since old power plants have long been paid for, they are particularly profitable for an industry which is beginning to face a restructured and competitive environment. As a result, the electricity generation industry is relying on these plants more than ever. From 1992-1998, the amount of electricity generated from the dirtiest power plants increased by almost 16 percent.(3) This also means the emission of carbon dioxide, one of the major causes of global warming, is also on the rise.

Q. How do legal loopholes and special exemptions affect toxic emissions from power plants?

A. The huge amount of toxic air pollution from power plants is, at least, partly the result of special pollution exemptions for the electric industry that currently exist in the Clean Air Act.(2) Power plants also enjoy an exemption under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that allows them to dispose of over 100 million tons of toxic combustion waste annually with no restrictions.(2) While ending these special exemptions for power plants will not, by itself, resolve the massive toxic pollution from electricity generation, it is an important part of the solution.(2) In particular, acid aerosols and toxic metals would be reduced by ending special exemptions for power plants.(2)

Q. Many people say global warming isn’t real. What’s the deal?

A. “The scientific evidence that human activities are causing dramatic changes in the global climate is stronger than ever,” said Patty Glick, manager of National Wildlife Federation’s Climate Change and Wildlife Program.(4) “The electricity sector accounts for 40 percent of the nation’s emissions of carbon dioxide and is, therefore, a major factor in our contribution to global climate change. Left unchecked, climate change will undermine efforts to conserve habitat and protect vulnerable species. We cannot afford to delay action, and regulating carbon dioxide in the electricity sector is an important step.”(4)

Q. Is it true that California’s environmental regulations have slowed or prevented siting of new power plants and are responsible for the electricity shortage?

A. No. Market conditions, rather than California’s environmental review processes and protections, have led to business decisions not to build new plants in the state and much of the region over the last decade.(5)

In addition to increased energy efficiency and renewables, California needs more highly efficient, natural gas-fired power plants.(5) The Natural Resources Defense Council and many other environmental groups support the ongoing additions of such plants, which have no difficulty meeting California’s siting requirements.(5) New, cleaner generation is now being sited, and in reasonable time frames.(5) These new plants, both renewable and fossil fuel, are dramatically cleaner than California’s existing older and dirtier plants.(5)

Q. Are California’s air quality and public health protections responsible for the rolling blackouts in California?

A. As the Los Angeles Times noted on January 25, “California regulations have not short-circuited the amounts of electricity produced, according to power company representatives.”(6) Power plants are not being shut down because of air regulations during the Stage 3 alerts.(6) The Times could find only one small, obsolete plant that had to suspend operations temporarily to comply with air quality standards, and it accounted for less than one-fifth of 1 percent of California’s peak power needs.(6)

Q. What can one person do to make a difference?

A. You can make a difference right in your own home. By installing 10 compact fluorescent light bulbs, replacing an old refrigerator, and replacing old, single-glazed windows you can keep a combined 12 tons of CO2 out of the air each year.