State is regulating emissions from existing back-up generators
ALBANY—New York state will be cracking down on diesel generators that provide back-up power in large buildings in order to prevent adding more nitrogen oxides and particulates to the atmosphere.
The new regulations, set to take effect in May, also limit emissions from natural gas-fired engines. However, because natural gas has lower emissions than diesel, it should be easier for such engines to meet the criteria, according to state regulators.
As a matter of fact, in order to comply with these new regulations, operators of diesel generators may switch to natural gas or natural gas/diesel co-fueled generators, the state Department of Environmental Conservation told American Gas. Operators will make compliance decisions based on specific circumstances.
The new law, which targets emissions from existing equipment, goes beyond the standards recently established by the federal government, which only apply to new equipment, according to a news release from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Nitrogen oxide contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, the main component of smog. Ozone and particulates can cause asthma, shortness of breath, coughing, nasal irritation, permanent lung damage and heart attacks.
“The harmful pollution that emanates from diesel generators is a proven health risk for New Yorkers, and it’s critical we do all we can to limit exposure to it,” Cuomo said. “These new standards not only place New York at the forefront of reducing air pollution, but also further our efforts to encourage the development of renewable energy resources to both combat climate change and grow our economy.”
The equipment covered includes units that provide short-term power to facilities such as office buildings and hospitals during times of peak electricity demand, when ozone levels are often elevated. These sources, which produce more than 150 kilowatts of power in the New York City region and more than 300 kilowatts in the rest of the state, will be required to meet the standards unless they are used solely for emergency purposes, such as during blackouts.
The generators have traditionally not been subject to the same pollution controls as centralized power plants.