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Washington Administrative Code (Last Updated: November 23, 2016) |
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Title 173. Ecology, Department of (See Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) |
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Chapter 173-407. Carbon dioxide mitigation program, greenhouse gases emissions performance standard and sequestration plans and programs for thermal electric generating facilities. |
Section 173-407-030. Carbon dioxide mitigation program applicability for Part I.
Latest version.
- (1) Statutory authority for a carbon dioxide mitigation program. RCW 70.94.892(1) states that "For fossil-fueled electric generation facilities having more than twenty-five thousand kilowatts station generating capability but less than three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts station generation capability, except for fossil-fueled floating thermal electric generation facilities under the jurisdiction of the energy facility site evaluation council pursuant to RCW 80.50.010, the department or authority shall implement a carbon dioxide mitigation program consistent with the requirements of chapter 80.70 RCW."(2) Statutory carbon dioxide mitigation program applicability requirements. RCW 80.70.020 describes the applicability requirements and is reprinted below:(1) The provisions of this chapter apply to:(a) New fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts or more and fossil-fueled floating thermal electric generation facilities of one hundred thousand kilowatts or more under RCW 80.50.020 (14)(a), for which an application for site certification is made to the council after July 1, 2004;(b) New fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of more than twenty-five thousand kilowatts, but less than three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts, except for fossil-fueled floating thermal electric generation facilities under the council's jurisdiction, for which an application for an order of approval has been submitted after July 1, 2004;(c) Fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts or more that have an existing site certification agreement and, after July 1, 2004, apply to the council to increase the output of carbon dioxide emissions by fifteen percent or more through permanent changes in facility operations or modification or equipment; and(d) Fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of more than twenty-five thousand kilowatts, but less than three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts, except for fossil-fueled floating thermal electric generation facilities under the council's jurisdiction, that have an existing order of approval and, after July 1, 2004, apply to the department or authority, as appropriate, to permanently modify the facility so as to increase its station-generating capability by at least twenty-five thousand kilowatts or to increase the output of carbon dioxide emissions by fifteen percent or more, whichever measure is greater.(3) New facilities. Any fossil-fueled thermal electric generating facility is required to mitigate CO2 emissions as described in chapter 80.70 RCW, if the facility meets the following criteria:(a) An application was received after July 1, 2004;(b) The station-generating capability is below 350 MWe and above 25 MWe;(c) The facility is not a fossil-fueled floating thermal electric generation facility subject to regulation by the energy facility site evaluation council.(4) Modifying existing fossil-fueled thermal electric generating facilities. A fossil-fueled thermal electric generating facility seeking to modify the facility or any electrical generating units is required to mitigate the increase of the emission of CO2, as described in RCW 80.70.020, when the following occur:(a) The application was received after July 1, 2004;(b) The unmodified station generating capability is more than 25 MWe and less than 350 MWe;(c) The increase to the facility or units is the greater of the following measures:(i) An increase in station-generating capability of more than 25 MWe; or(ii) An increase in CO2 emissions output by 15% or more;(d) The facility or the modification is not under the jurisdiction of the energy facility site evaluation council.(5) Examples of fossil-fueled thermal electric generation units. The following are some examples of fossil-fueled thermal electric generating units:(a) Coal, oil, natural gas, or coke fueled steam generating units (boilers) supplying steam to a steam turbine - electric generator;(b) Simple cycle combustion turbine attached to an electric generator;(c) Combined cycle combustion turbines (with and without duct burners) attached to an electric generator and supplying steam to a steam turbine - electric generator;(d) Coal gasification units, or similar devices, where the synthesis gas produced is used to fuel a combustion turbine, boiler or similar device used to power an electric generator or provide hydrogen for use in fuel cells;(e) Hydrocarbon reformer emissions where the hydrogen produced is used in fuel cells.