PJM Interconnection Supports Presidential Exemptions From Clean Air Act Standards Requested By 13,900 MW Of Electric Generation In PJM Region, Including Keystone And Conemaugh Power Plants In PA

On April 4, the PJM Interconnection sent a letter to the President supporting Presidential exemptions from the federal Clean Air Act requested by 13,900 MW of electric generation in the PJM region.

PJM said two coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania-- Keystone Power Plant in Armstrong County and Conemaugh Power Plant in Indiana County both operated by Talen Energy-- requested exemptions.

The power plants in other states include-- Cardinal and Miami Fort in Ohio; Cooper and Spurlock in Kentucky; Fort Martin, Harrison; and Mount Storm in West Virginia, and Kincaid in Illinois.

"PJM understands that at least 13,900 MW of capacity resources in PJM have requested a Presidential exemption from certain requirements."

"These 13,900 MW are bound by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved tariff requirements to support the reliability of the bulk electric system.”

"To the extent the requested exemptions allow resources that would otherwise retire to extend their operation, PJM anticipates needing these units to maintain reliable grid operations during peak system conditions.”

"To the extent the requested Presidential exemptions allow additional time to upgrade the subject units required for compliance with the MATS RTR rule without losing their output, granting an additional two year exemption will help PJM and unit owners stagger the impacts of unit outages to mitigate any potential reliability impacts.”

“In these circumstances, PJM supports these important units’ requested exemptions so that they remain available to serve customers during peak conditions for as long as possible."

Click Here for a copy of the PJM letter.

Reaction

PennEnvironment’s Executive Director David Masur released the following statement: 

“Instead of spending time trying to do an end-run around the laws that protect us from air pollution — while simultaneously increasing our reliance on the nation’s dirtiest energy sources — PJM should stop delaying the hundreds of clean energy projects that they’ve been dragging their feet on. 

“It’s outrageous that PJM has the gall to ask federal officials to turn a blind eye to illegal air pollution from the region’s dirtiest power plants. 

“We have renewable energy projects ready to break ground and get constructed throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states PJM serves. 

“We just need PJM to approve these delayed projects.

“PJM’s effort to continue our addiction to 19th century sources of energy that are dirty, dangerous, unreliable and expensive, instead of using safer, more reliable and more cost-effective 21st-century technologies such as solar and wind power and battery storage is appalling.

“Unfortunately, PJM is taking action to help the companies that want to continue our reliance on dirty fossil fuels, instead of working to bring cleaner and cheaper renewable energy projects online that are ready to be built today.” 

(Photos: Keystone and Conemaugh power plants.)

Resource Link:

-- EPA: Clean Air Act Presidential Exemption Request Information; Send Requests To: airaction@epa.gov  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 5 to 11 - Late Night Conventional Wastewater Road Dumping Failure To Comply With Cleanup Order; Pipeline Leak Investigation Expands To 2 Other Counties; More Abandoned Wells  [PaEN]

-- Late Night Road Dumping: Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Continues To Be Dumped On Dirt, Gravel, Paved Roads; DEP Expected To Provide Update At April 24 Meeting  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak In Bucks County Expands To Delaware, Montgomery Counties; DEP, Dept. Of Health Briefing On State Response To Leak Now Available On Demand [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 12 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For EQT ARO LLC 3 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Cascade Twp., Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 12 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

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-- PJM Interconnection Supports Presidential Exemptions From Clean Air Act Standards Requested By 13,900 MW Of Electric Generation In PJM Region, Including Keystone And Conemaugh Power Plants In PA  [PaEN]

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[Posted: April 8, 2025]  PA Environment Digest