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PUCO announces offer of technical assistance for combined heat and power conversions

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Feb. 23, 2012) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to launch a pilot program to offer technical assistance to industrial boiler operators who invest in combined heat power in Ohio.

Ohio manufacturers, hospitals, and universities operating industrial boilers will be subject to new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act standards that are expected to be finalized in April.   Preliminary work conducted by the U.S. EPA suggests that these facilities will be required to make investments in environmental retrofits to meet the new standards.   Combined heat and power (CHP) is an alternative compliance strategy that creates energy from the heat generated for other uses.  The technical assistance will enable owners and operators of industrial boilers in Ohio to evaluate and invest in those technologies that enable them to thrive economically while meeting environmental regulations.

“Because of coal plant retirements, educating consumers on combined heat power is of particular interest to the PUCO.   A facility’s decision to invest in CHP may constitute a rational market response that not only benefits the facility but which will also supports grid reliability in Ohio,” PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler stated.   

To support this effort, the PUCO scheduled an educational workshop to discuss the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) pilot program for industrial boiler operators complying with forthcoming U.S. EPA Clean Air Act standards. The PUCO today passed a resolution in support of the program.

The workshop is scheduled for March 9, 2012 at 9 a.m. at the offices of the PUCO at 180 East Broad Street, hearing room 11-B, Columbus, OH 43215. The workshop will also be webcast live on the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov.

The PUCO is responsible under Senate Bill 221 to promote the state’s policy to ensure diversity of electricity supplies and suppliers and consumer choice, including the option to install distributed generation.  It is also responsible to promote the use of advanced energy resources, such as CHP.  CHP may also provide some ameliorating effects to the localized grid reliability challenges projected as a result of recently announced retirements and environmental retrofits of coal-fired power plants.    

A copy of today’s resolution is available on the PUCO website here.

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business, and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.

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