Ozone nonattainment: Implications for NO[sub x] and VOC compliance by the electric power industry

Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 requires that regions not in ozone attainment and designated as ``severe`` take actions to achievement by 2007. In a several-phase study for the US Department of Energy, ANL is investigating the impact and implications of the Title I requirements in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. As part of tie study we examined the potential additional compliance requirements that might be imposed on the electric power industry, after satisfying O{sub 2}and NO{sub x} requirements specified in Title IV, to achieve attainment in Chicago. Alternative scenarios were examined to show the incremental emission reductions and air quality effects of each action. The Urban Airshed Model (UAM) selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for ozone compliance modeling, was used to assess the effects on air quality. Preliminary results show that, for the episode modeled, compliance with Title TV regulations for utility NO{sub x} emissions did not have much effect on air quality. Consequently, if utilities are the targeted emissions source, it is possible that additional regulations beyond Title IV may be imposed. However, complete removal of utility emissions did not lead to attainment and only improved air quality by 20--25% of themore » improvement from removing all emissions, pointing out the importance of non-utility sources to the ozone problem in the region. Non-utility sources will be investigated further in another phase of this work.« less