On January 14, EPA finalized new amendments to its 2010 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE NESHAP). Under the new amendments, large internal combustion engines are subject to run-time restrictions, fuel specifications and other technical requirements when used as part of emergency electrical demand response (i.e., supplementing peak loads or preventing brownouts/blackouts). The rule emphasizes that control or emissions limits do not apply to engines of any size when used during power outages caused by storm events.
The applicability of the RICE NESHAP amendments are very specific to local circumstances, and any entity using a large reciprocating internal combustion engine is encouraged to look closer at how the new requirements may impact their specific situation. Additional information on the amendments, including specific rule language and fact sheets, is available at EPA’s RICE NESHAP web page.