New electric power plants emissions database

Announced on December 11 1998, the new Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database, or E-GRID, integrates 12 different federal databases to provide information on emissions per unit of electricity.

E-GRID will enable users to draw direct comparisons of pollution levels from different power sources.

The database will also show, for individual power plants, companies, states, and regions, the amount and percentage of power from different fuels, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind.

The EPA hopes the database will allow consumers to choose among competing electricity suppliers. The US Dept. of Energy says that18 states have already adopted policies allowing consumers to do so.

The EPA believes E-GRID will encourage the development of cleaner electricity resources by helping consumers understand product information provided by electric companies. E-GRID could also help EPA and state environmental regulators monitor changes in power plant emissions as the electricity industry becomes more competitive.

E-GRID will initially report on carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in 1996,

but the EPA is considering the addition of more pollutants in the future.