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PA EPA REWARDS FIVE UTILITIES IN FOUR STATES

Release Date: 10/15/96
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PA EPA REWARDS FIVE UTILITIES IN FOUR STATES

FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1996

EPA REWARDS FIVE UTILITIES IN FOUR STATES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES CUTTING ACID RAIN AND GLOBAL WARMING EMISSIONS

In an action reflecting EPA's market-based, cost-efficient approach to Clean Air Act implementation, the Agency today announced the awarding of 5,687 acid rain bonus allowances to five electric power utilities for undertaking energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. This is the sixth group of awards given under the Conservation and Renewable Energy Reserve program established by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Energy efficiency leads to less power generation demand, which in turn leads to emission reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), toxics and particulates, as well as the reduction of water contaminants and solid waste. Electric power plants are the biggest United States source of SO2, NO2 and carbon dioxide. The energy efficiency and renewable energy measures will lead to a one-time CO2 reduction of approximately 2.15 million tons. Today's five awardees and number of allowances received are: Pacific Gas & Electric, Calif., 3814 allowances received(the biggest single award to date); San Diego Gas & Electric, Calif., 1027 allowances; Sierra Pacific Power, Nev., 666 allowances; ESI Energy, Fla., 143 allowances; and Wisconsin Public Power, 37 allowances. Under the Acid Rain requirements, an electric utility must hold one allowance for every ton of SO2 emitted. EPA allocates a limited number of allowances to utilities to ensure that emissions will be cut in half by the year 2010 -- to less than 9 million tons annually nationwide. For further technical information on the awards, contact Melanie Dean at 202-233-9189 or the Acid Rain Hotline at 202- 233-9620.

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