Power Shortage Could Be Affecting Air Quality

The power shortage currently affecting California may bepolluting the air as well, say Environmental Protection Agencyofficials. Since electricity deregulation in 1996, there have been nonew power plants built in the last decade, and increased demand hasforced energy companies into using their "peakers," or old power plantsthat no longer meet pollution standards. In addition, many largecompanies are using diesel generators to reduce their demand on thepower grid in exchange for incentives from the Independent SystemOperator. The added pollution may push air districts past federal andstate limits, resulting in costly regulations. In efforts to meet demandwithout surpassing regulation limits, air districts are favorable tonegotiating deals that allow old and polluting plants to run beyondtheir permit allocations in exchange for fees that will go toward airpollution reduction in other areas.