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EPA Announces Proposed Rule Action to Revise ELG's and Support Reliable, Affordable Coal-fired Power Plants

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is proposing a rule to revise wastewater limits, known as effluent limitations guidelines (ELG), for steam electric power plants that will help improve grid reliability and lower electricity prices while continuing to support clean and safe water resources. If finalized, the EPA's proposal is estimated to reduce electricity generation costs by as much as $1.1 billion annually, which could provide cost-savings to American consumers.

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DOE Awards $94 Million to Eight American Companies to Accelerate SMR Deployments and Develop Supply Chain

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of eight companies to support the near-term deployment of advanced light-water small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The DOE states that awardees will collectively receive more than $94 million in Federal cost-shared funding to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in licensing, supply chain, and site preparation.

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Industry News

PPL Montana Announces Decision to Mothball Corette Coal Plant

LCG, September 20, 2012--PPL Montana, a subsidiary of PPL Corp., announced yesterday its decision to place the J.E. Corette power plant in Billings, Montana into long-term reserve status beginning in April 2015, when the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) regulations go into effect.

The PPL Montana vice president and chief operating officer stated, "Our detailed analysis has shown that to meet the emission reductions required by EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, we would need to invest $38 million in the Corette plant. We simply cannot justify that level of spending in the current wholesale power market in the Northwest."

Power market economics also influenced the decision. According to the press release, wholesale power prices have been depressed in the Northwest because of declining electricity use and an abundance of new wind energy projects subsidized by federal production tax credits.

By placing the 154-MW coal plant into long-term reserve status (i.e., mothballing the plant), PPL Montana will retain the option to return the plant to service, given the right conditions. The plant commenced commercial operations in 1968 and consumes low-sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin.
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