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The article focuses on the significance of Kansas City Power & Light Co.'s regional energy plan that balances the customer's interest for low electricity cost and environmental requirements in Kansas City, Missouri. The company has installed 6,700 megawatts on its coal-fired Iatan Station as the finale of its Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP). It outlines the significance of the initiative since it enables the company to save energy and control emission.

The article presents information related to FirstEnergy Corp.'s R.E. Burger Plant, which began operating, for demonstration purposes, a 50-MW version of Powerspan Corp.'s Electro-Catalytic Oxidation (ECO) multipollutant removal process. It is informed that after successful pilot testing funded and hosted by FirstEnergy, Powerspan installed the commercial demonstration unit (CDU) of its ECO process at the Burger plant and began testing it as an integrated system. Powerspan says it expects operating costs to be about 20% less than those of conventional technology solutions, even discounting the value of ECO's ability to meet the new environmental regulations.

The article presents information on the company Public Service of New Hampshire's (PSNH) Northern Wood Power Project (NWPP) that won "POWER" magazine's 2007 Marmaduke Award for excellence in operations and maintenance in New Hampshire. The project, completed in December 2006, reduced emissions and expanded the local market for low-grade wood. The NWPP is among the largest renewable energy projects in the U.S. and the only sizable one to replace a coal boiler with a biomass-fueled steam boiler. PSNH estimates that the NWPP will generate between 300,000 and 400,000 renewable energy certificates (RECs) each year, bringing in about $15 million of additional revenue and helping to keep rates low for PSNH customers.

The article presents information on MidAmerican Energy Co.'s Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center (WSEC) Unit 4, the first major new supercritical plant in the U.S. in more than 15 years, which won "POWER" magazine's 2007 Plant of the Year award. Burning pulverized coal to produce steam at supercritical pressure and temperature, which increases efficiency by 3% to 6% and reduces carbon dioxide emissions, made the technology even more compelling for MidAmerican and its partners, who built the plant. In 2002, MidAmerican chose a competitively bid, turnkey approach to building Unit 4. It awarded the project's engineering/procurement/construction (EPC) contract to a team led by Mitsui & Co. Energy Development Inc. on February 2, 2003.

Provides information on the Cheng Cycle steam-injection low-nitrous oxide (CLN) technology developed by doctor Dah Yu Cheng of Cheng Power Systems. Ability of CLN to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from gas turbines; Installation and testing of CLN technology at a West Coast refinery; Principle behind the CLN system.

The article provides information on Alqueva II, a new pumped storage hydropower plant supplying baseload electric power in Portugal. It says that the carbon emission target set by the European Union and the lack of indigenous fossil fuel resources forced Portugal to take renewable energy in 2000. It discusses the features of then project under a contract signed by Energia de Portugal (EDP) with Alston and its consortium partners EFACEC Engenharia SA for the Phase II development of the project.

The article discusses the operation of 600-MegaWatt Isogo Thermal Power Station J-Power owned by Electric Power Development Co. Ltd. in Yokohama Harbor, Japan. The company has the objectives to lower emissions levels in a gas-fired plant and increase thermal operating efficiency in supplying electricity throughout the country. It states that regenerative activated coke dry-type technology (ReACT) system and electrostatic precipitator are installed to reduce flue gas emissions.

The article offers news briefs related to power resources and utilities in the U.S. A report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated an annual decrease of 41.6 million metric tons of methane emissions from 1990 to 2010. The Congress has failed to modify the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) and its 1987 Amendments. The Southeastern Legal Foundation Inc. filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari on April 19, 2013 against the agency's regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

The article discusses a radio interview with European Commission Directorate General of Climate Action Jill Duggan about the British carbon emissions program. Considering the opposition of the Australian people to carbon tax, she describes the initial response of the British public to the emissions trading scheme in Europe. She talks about the target emissions reduction of the program but fails to specify its potential cost. She also reports on jobs created by dealing with climate change.

The author explains why he considers the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate carbon dioxide emitted by coal-fired power plants, as one of the regulatory obstacles being faced by the coal industry. He talks about how the NAAQS was created as part of the Clean Air Act (CAA). He also offers research data that supports the belief of the industry that compliance to the rule would be impossible.

The article reports on two environmental policies by the U.S. to decrease carbon emissions to 80 percent by 2050. It mentions Energy Information Administration data which reveals that U.S. contribution to global carbon-dioxide emission is 20.2 percent. It further states the estimation of Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) cost analysis of Waxman Markey which reveals that by 2020 each U.S. household will pay dollars 160 per year for carbon-reduced economy.

The article presents the author's views on the stand of India and China in negotiations of a follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol for carbon emissions limits. According to the author, India and China will take firm control of Copenhagen negotiations by standing together against any substantive carbon emissions limits for developing countries. It is stated that India and China will emit half of the world's carbon by 2030, and the U.S. will fall back into the pack.

The article informs that the U.S. is trying to exert some leadership in the international climate change debate by attempting carbon emission reductions before the upcoming Copenhagen meeting in Denmark. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has signaled that it supports developing a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol but will sign a new agreement only if China commits to making reductions of carbon dioxide.

The article focuses on the criticism of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) technical support document (TSD) on carbon emissions by staff researcher Alan Carlin. According to a report released by Carlin, the TSD is based on research conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) rather than on independent studies. Carlin pointed out that there were inconsistencies in the TSD and suggested that EPA should start an independent analysis of climatic changes.

The article focuses on the impact of the emission trading scheme (ETS) of the European Union (EU) on the market price of carbon. The EU regulators allocated emission allowances to the industries as per the pre-ETS time when the economy was in good health. Subsequently, now an increase in allowances will increase the value of carbon. This may lead to an increase in the cost of coal fired generation, subsidized less-carbon-intensive and resulting in more expensive renewable energy.

The article discusses the competitive edge of the High Bridge Combined Cycle Project of Xcel Energy Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is stated that the 570-mega-watt (MW) gas fired power plant was able to reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emission. The Minnesota Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP) has opted for a cleaner and efficient gas fired generation technology by taking its old coal plant.

The article presents the author's views on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (L-W) which failed to gain adequate support in the U.S. Senate. According to the author, the legislation, that proposes to cut carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2050, has little to do with saving the planet or reducing carbon emissions. The author opines that the legislation has given the politicians opportunity to win points for being concerned about climate change.

The article discusses the implications of the carbon control legislation under review by the U.S. Congress. The bill, S. 2191, America's Climate Security Act of 2007, would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It states that, if Congress adopts a cap-and-trade plan to control climate change, then it should recognize the collateral damage it will cause in terms of economic inequities at domestic and international level. It states that any carbon control mandate would redistribute wealth from those states with lower electric rates to those with more nuclear and renewable energy capacity. Given that China, India and the U.S. produce together 56% of global emissions, the entire world must participate.

Comments on a mercury emissions control regulation for coal-fired power plants proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as of October 2004. Concerns regarding the failure of the U.S. government to provide scientific evidence that links mercury emission to mercury-contaminated fish; Results of a study on the health of children in Seychelles Island whose mothers contain high levels of mercury in their bodies; Estimated percentage of mercury emissions that originate from U.S. utilities.