EPA begins greenhouse gas permit program

The EPA has introduced new GHG permitting standards under the Clean Air Act, requiring large power plants and refineries to undergo a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis. While states typically issue these permits, the EPA has taken over this role in Arizona and Texas due to non-compliance. The program targets facilities adding more than 75,000 tons of CO2 (or equivalent) and will expand in July 2011 to include all new facilities emitting over 100,000 tons per year. The BACT process involves a five-step evaluation of technology availability, feasibility, effectiveness, and impact to determine the best emission control options.

• The EPA's GHG permitting standards apply to newly-constructed or modified facilities that already require air permits for non-GHG pollutants and would add more than 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide or an equivalent mix of GHGs. Starting in July 2011, the requirement extends to all new facilities emitting more than 100,000 tons of CO2 or equivalent GHG mix annually.
• The Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis is a five-step process used to determine if GHG pollution controls are warranted. It involves identifying available technologies (such as carbon capture and sequestration for coal plants), assessing technical feasibility, ranking effectiveness, analyzing economic and environmental impacts, and selecting the top-ranked option.
• While individual states generally control the issuance of air permits under the Clean Air Act, the EPA assumed responsibility for issuing permits in Arizona and Texas because those states did not adapt their programs to comply with GHG standards.
• The EPA has established a timeline for further GHG regulations, including proposing New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) guidelines for existing oil refineries in December 2011 and issuing final GHG standards for existing power plants in May 2012 and existing oil refineries in November 2012.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2011). EPA begins greenhouse gas permit program. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/epa-begins-greenhouse-gas-permit-program

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. EPA begins greenhouse gas permit program. 2011. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/epa-begins-greenhouse-gas-permit-program.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=EPA begins greenhouse gas permit program |date=18 January 2011 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/epa-begins-greenhouse-gas-permit-program |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2011epa, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{EPA begins greenhouse gas permit program}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2011}, month = jan, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/epa-begins-greenhouse-gas-permit-program}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }