Clean Air Interstate Rule

On March 10, 2005, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) that is designed to address power plant pollution that drifts from one state to another. A cap and trade system is used to reduce the target pollutants—sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

CAIR State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision and Rule
General Information on CAIR
Related Links
Contact Information

Links to TCEQ Emissions Banking and Trading

CAIR State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision and Rule

Executive Summary
SIP Narrative Revision (2007-051-SIP-NR)
Appendices

30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter H, Division 7 CAIR Rule Revision

Executive Summary
CAIR Rule Revisions 30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter H, Division 7 (2007-053-101-EN)

General Information on CAIR

On March 10, 2005, the EPA signed CAIR. The final rule was subsequently published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2005. The rule requires 28 states and the District of Columbia to achieve specified emission reductions for new and existing electric generating units (EGUs). States had the option to use one of two methods of compliance: (1) meet the state's emission budget by requiring EGUs to participate in an interstate cap and trade system, administered by the EPA, that caps emissions in two stages; or (2) meet an individual state emission budget through measures of the state's choosing. In 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature (Regular Session) passed HB 2481, which required Texas to adopt portions of the rule by reference and stipulated specifications for allowances and set-asides for nitrogen oxide (NO_X) emissions. Therefore, Texas is participating in the EPA-administered interstate cap and trade program.

CAIR consists of two phases for reductions in NO_X and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Phase I for NO_X runs from 2009 through 2014; Texas' NO_X budget amounts to 181,014 tons annually. Phase II will begin in 2015 and continue indefinitely; Texas' NO_X budget will be 150,845 tons annually.

SO₂ budgets are based on Title IV allocations with annual state budgets for 2010 through 2014 (Phase I) based on a 50% reduction for all units in the affected state. The Texas budget for Phase I will be 320,946 tons annually. In 2015 and beyond, Phase II budgets are based on a 65% reduction of Title IV allowances allocated to units in the affected state for SO₂ controls. The Texas budget for Phase II would be 224,662 tons annually. SO₂ allocations are distributed by the EPA through the Acid Rain Program . EGUs that are required to participate in the CAIR program, but are non-Acid Rain units, will be required to acquire SO₂ allowances.

The EPA modeled 37 states, including Texas, for their fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) contribution using the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model. A criterion of 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) was used for determining whether SO₂ and NO_x emissions in a state made a significant contribution to PM_2.5 nonattainment in another state. State-by-state zero-out modeling was then used to quantify the state's contribution for SO₂ and NO_X. The EPA's modeling demonstrated that Texas contributed 0.29 µg/m³ with two downwind linkages - Madison and St. Clair, Illinois. For ozone, 31 states in the eastern United States were modeled. Since Texas was not included in the modeling exercise, there was no determination that Texas contributed to ozone nonattainment in another state.

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