North Carolina’s Changing Energy Generation Profile and Reductions in Key Air Pollutants, 2000-2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Coal combustion releases a number of airborne toxins. The North Carolina (NC) Clean Smokestack Act of 2002 required coal-fired power plants (CFPP) to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions by 2009 and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 2009 and 2013. The purpose of this analysis is to corroborate the effectiveness of the Clean Smokestacks Act at reducing air pollution across NC and assess a major policy that aimed to benefit environmental health. METHODS: We utilized publicly available databases from the Energy Information Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to characterize NC’s electricity generation profile from 2000 until 2019 and evaluate corresponding NOX and SO2 emissions by sector over the same time period. RESULTS:Between 2000-2008 in NC, approximately 60% of electric power was generated by coal-fired plants. Since then, NC’s electric power generation has transformed from predominate dependence on coal to approximately equal dependence on natural gas and nuclear power (each at ~30%), with coal close behind (~25%). Renewables have increased, although marginally compared with the rapid increase in natural gas. Despite the stark drop in reliance on CFPPs for energy in NC, and subsequent drop in emissions, CFPPs still contribute ~60% of SO2 air pollution as of 2017. CONCLUSIONS:While this analysis relies upon utilities’ self-reported electricity generation and emissions data and publicly available data from federal agencies, the data support environmental health policy and research purposes. NC’s electric utilities met the 2009 and 2013 regulatory benchmarks set by the Clean Smokestack Act, which resulted in substantial reductions in SO2 emissions from the fuel combustion electric generation sector. Still, CFPPs remain the predominant utility-related contributor of SO2 air pollution in NC. KEYWORDS: air pollution, sulfur dioxide, coal, natural gas, policy, North Carolina