NEWS OF THE WEEK
CLIMATE CHANGE: Agency empowers
local authorities to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases
T
HE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency is
continuing to move on a path to regulate greenhouse gases, and last week it gave states the responsibility and authority to begin controlling carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions under the permit provisions of the Clean Air Act. Under EPA’s plan, only the largest refineries and electric utilities will be affected for the next two years and only when a new facility is built that emits more than 100,000 tons of CO2 or equivalent greenhouse gases annually or when a modification to an existing facility will result in a 75,000-ton increase in annual emissions. Other facilities in these sectors will remain unaffected until EPA draws up a new emissions control strategy for CO2 and the states implement and enforce that strategy. This process may take as long as two years (C&EN, Jan. 3, page 10). Although legal under a Supreme Court ruling, EPA’s use of the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases is controversial and opposed by fossil-fuel-based industries and some members of Congress. The approach, however, enjoys support from renewable energy industries, environmental groups, and others concerned about climate change. While EPA develops its long-term control strategy, state and local agencies are left to determine what new or expanding facilities must do in the months ahead to control CO2 emissions, says S. William Becker, executive
director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, an organization of air pollution regulators. “I suppose an agency could require nothing to cut CO2,” he notes, “but chances are they will require energy efficiency measures since that is something the facility should be doing anyway.” Becker estimates that currently about 100 to 200 new or expanding facilities have applied for construction permits that could trigger Clean Air Act reviews. States are “simply unprepared” to run the program, says Scott Segal, an attorney for utilities and refineries. Segal, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, and others say the regulation will tie up agencies, kill jobs, and block new construction. Becker acknowledges that state budgets and personnel are stretched thin but says agencies are planning ahead and will do everything possible to quickly process new permit applications. Eight states did not submit implementation plans for the regulation. Of those, seven (Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, and Wyoming) allowed EPA to take over their air pollution programs for greenhouse gases. Texas, however, is suing the agency and refusing to implement the regulation, calling it “an arrogant act by an overreaching EPA.” In response, EPA moved to take over the Texas program but was blocked on Jan. 3, when a federal appeals court issued a temporary order staying agency action. A judicial decision on whether to extend the temporary stay is expected soon.—JEFF JOHNSON SHU T T ERSTO CK
EPA TASKS STATES TO CUT EMISSIONS
States must develop plans for regulating CO2 emissions from refineries and electric utilities.
BIOBASED CHEMICALS Myriant to build succinic acid plant in Louisiana Myriant Technologies will build the world’s largest biobased succinic acid plant at Louisiana’s Port of Lake Providence, the firm’s CEO, Stephen J. Gatto, announced on Dec. 28 in a joint statement with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Synthetically derived succinic acid, mostly made in China, is currently used in small quantities in pigments, pharmaceuticals, and metal plating. Proponents of biobased succinic acid claim its lower cost will open big markets in polymers, fibers, surfactants, and detergents. The $80 million Myriant plant will use sorghum as a feedstock to produce
up to 15,000 tons of succinic acid per year. The project received $50 million in Department of Energy funding last year as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. DOE has named succinic acid one of the top 12 biobased products with potential as chemical building blocks. The plant will begin operations in 2012, Myriant says, and will employ 49 workers. It will be the first plant to make biobased succinic acid on a commercial scale. In 2009, Bioamber opened a demonstration-scale succinic acid plant in Pomacle, France. Bioamber plans to ramp
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up production there to 3,300 tons per year by the end of 2011. Meanwhile, the company just licensed a new-generation microorganism for succinic acid production from Cargill. Other firms intend to enter or advance their biobased succinic acid businesses. For example, BASF is working with Dutch firm CSM to isolate a new bacterium for succinic acid fermentation with an eye to starting production. And Reverdia, a joint venture between DSM and Roquette, plans to scale up from a demonstration plant in Lestrem, France.—MELODY BOMGARDNER
