What is BACT and how does it apply to Plant Washington?
BACT stand for “best available control technology.” When a new power plant or other facility is being developed that will emit certain regulated substances, the facility must perform what is called a BACT analysis as part of its permitting process. During the BACT analysis process, facility engineers perform an extensive evaluation of each of the facility’s regulated emissions and the most effective technologies to limit those emissions to comply with state and federal regulations. For a supercritical coal-fired power plant, the major types of emissions that are required by law to be controlled and are therefore subject to BACT analysis include particulate emissions, nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds(VOC),sulfuric acid mist, fluorides (as HF), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO) and mercury (Hg). Mercury BACT is not required under Federal Regulations but is under State (Georgia) regulations.
