Demand Response in EPA MATS Era Bridges the Coal-to-Gas Gap

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized standards in December 2011 that set higher limits on emissions of hazardous air pollutants from existing and new coal- and oil-fired electric generation resources.The Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) create capacity challenges for utilities that rely heavily on coal-fired generation—utilities disproportionally located in the Midwest and South. As utilities evaluate alternative generation options, demand response can offer a fast-to-market, flexible way to bridge the gap between coal plant retirements and the build out of new generation while supporting regional economic development.