United States and European Union Intensify Power Plant Crackdown

It now seems that new rules have been introduced that will increase the pressure on energy firms. These new rules will see energy companies try to curb their emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulates. Thus, fossil fuel fired power plants on both sides of the Atlantic are set to face these tough new emissions rules. This news comes in as both the United States and the European Union choose to move forward with these plans to tackle air pollution.

The European Parliament voted almost overwhelmingly in favor of this new legislation last Wednesday. It aims to streamline and tighten existing rules that govern power plant emissions. Under the Industrial Emissions Directive power plants will face very strict limits on emissions levels from 2016.

Power plant operators will now be required to demonstrate that they are using the best available techniques to limit their environmental impact in order to obtain a license to operate. Holger Krahmer, who is the MP that is responsible for guiding the legislation through parliament, said that the new rules would provide energy firms with the regulatory certainty they require to invest in clean energy generation.

He went on to say that, after more than two years of difficult negotiations, they have a compromise that will help improve the implementation of the directive. Compared to the current situations that people are in, this will offer more clarity and a better chance of a level playing field across all of Europe on environmental requirements for industrial installations.

Of course, the legislation also allows member states considerable flexibility in how the new rules will be imposed. Each country, such as as the UK, has the freedom to extend the deadline for energy firms to comply with the new rules.