New Mexico regulatory rule puts limits on San Juan CO2 emissions

New Mexico Political Report:

Enchant Energy will have to comply with new carbon dioxide emission limits should it successfully acquire the rights to own and operate the San Juan Generating Station.

The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board approved a new carbon dioxide emission rule for coal-fired power plants on Friday that will go into effect Jan. 1.

The decision came after two days of hearings in Farmington that led to several changes to the draft rule proposed by the New Mexico Environment Department.

The carbon dioxide rulemaking came as a result of the Energy Transition Act, which limits carbon dioxide emissions to 1,100 pounds per megawatt hour after Jan. 1, 2023. This limit will be calculated on a 365-day rolling average.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Sargent & Lundy Senior Environmental Consultant Ken Snell said that Farmington and Enchant could operate the power plant at higher emission levels above the 1,100 pounds per megawatt hour early on and then make up for those high emissions by reducing the emissions later on. The engineering firm Sargent & Lundy has performed contract work for Enchant Energy.

[Hannah Grover]

More: Enchant Energy’s San Juan project at center of debate around new carbon dioxide rules