TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter more closely examines permits and other considerations necessary to site a microturbine. Many issues are either undefined, not clearly defined, and/or in transition. It will take some effort to get the specific information on some of these matters, if available at all.
In the future, the biggest impact on microturbines specifically and distributed generation generally will be the environmental protection laws for all sources of generation. As the world becomes more concerned about the environment, the rules regarding emissions will become even more restrictive. In fact, emission rules for all sources of fossil fuel based generation will become more and more an influencing factor in determining the types of generation allowed.
At the time of this writing, the EPA was starting the process of publishing a new draft of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). NESHAP applies to stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) and will affect the use of distributed generation across the nation. Air emission rules will eventually relate directly to microturbines and their costs. The rules and regulations associated with air emissions are many and complex. This chapter briefly covers how the systems work and some of the more important aspects of the laws.
The granddaddy of environmental permits and operations is the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments (1965, 1967, 1970, 1977, and 1990). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces the CAA. In 1970, President Nixon signed into law the amendment...
