Code of Massachusetts Regulations
310 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Title 310 CMR 7.00 - Air Pollution Control
Section 7.70 - Massachusetts CO[2] Budget Trading Program
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) CO Budget Trading Program General Provisions.
Account Number. The identification number given by the Department or its agent to each CO Allowance Tracking System account.
Acid Rain Emissions Limitation. As defined in 40 CFR 72.2, a limitation on emissions of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides under the Acid Rain Program under Title IV of the Clean Air Act.
Acid Rain Program. Acid Rain Program means a multi-state sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides air pollution control and emission reduction program established by the Administrator under Title IV of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. and 40 CFR Parts 72 through 78.
ADMINISTRATOR. Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the Administrator's authorized representative.
Allocate or Allocation. The determination by the Department of the number of CO allowances to be recorded in the Voluntary Renewable Energy Account, or the Massachusetts Auction Account.
Allocation Year. A calendar year for which the Department allocates or awards CO allowances pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(5). The allocation year is the first year a CO allowance or a CO offset allowance can be used to demonstrate compliance with 310 CMR 7.70. The allocation year of each CO allowance is reflected in the unique identification number given to the allowance pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(6)(d)4.
Allowance Auction or Auction. An auction in which DOER offers CO allowances for sale, in accordance with 225 CMR 13.00: DOER CO Budget Trading Program Auction Regulation.
Automated Data Acquisition and Handling System or DAHS. That component of the continuous emissions monitoring system, or other emissions monitoring system approved for use under 310 CMR 7.70(8), designed to interpret and convert individual output signals from pollutant concentration monitors, flow monitors, diluent gas monitors, and other component parts of the monitoring system to produce a continuous record of the measured parameters in the measurement units required by 310 CMR 7.70(8).
Billing Meter. The measurement device used to measure electric or thermal output for commercial billing under a contract where the facility selling the electric or thermal output has a different owner(s) from the owner(s) of the party purchasing the electric or thermal output.
BOILER. An enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired combustion device used to produce heat and to transfer heat to recirculating water, steam, or other medium.
CO Allowance. A limited authorization by the Department or a participating state under the CO2 Budget Trading Program to emit up to one ton of CO2, subject to all applicable limitations contained in 310 CMR 7.70 or equivalent regulations in other participating states.
CO Allowance Deduction or Deduct CO Allowances. The permanent withdrawal of CO allowances by the Department or its agent from a CO Allowance Tracking System compliance account to account for the number of tons of CO emitted from a CO budget source for a control period or an interim control period, determined in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(8), or for the forfeit or retirement of CO allowances as provided by 310 CMR 7.70.
CO Allowances Held or Hold CO Allowances. The CO allowances recorded by the Department or its agent, or submitted to the Department or its agent for recordation, in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(6) and (7), in a CO Allowance Tracking System account.
CO Allowance Tracking System (COATS). The system by which the Department or its agent records allocations, deductions, and transfers of CO2 allowances under the CO2 Budget Trading Program. The tracking system may also be used to track CO emissions offset projects, CO2 allowance prices and emissions from affected sources.
CO Allowance Tracking System Account. An account in the CO Allowance Tracking System established by the Department or its agent for purposes of recording the allocation, holding, transferring, or deducting of CO2 allowances.
CO Allowance Transfer Deadline. Midnight of the March 1st occurring after the end of the relevant control period and each relevant interim control period or, if that March 1st is not a business day, midnight of the first business day thereafter and is the deadline by which CO allowances must be submitted for recordation in a CO budget source's compliance account in order for the source to meet the CO2 requirements under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(e)3. for the control period and each interim control period immediately preceding such deadline.
CO 2 Authorized Account Representative. For a CO2 budget source and each CO2 budget unit at the source, the natural person who is authorized by the owners and operators of the source and all CO2 budget units at the source, in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(2), to represent and legally bind each owner and operator in matters pertaining to the CO Budget Trading Program or, for a general account, the natural person who is authorized, under 310 CMR 7.70(6), to transfer or otherwise dispose of CO allowances held in the general account. If the CO2 budget source is also subject to the Acid Rain Program then, for a CO2 Budget Trading Program compliance account, this natural person shall be the same person as the designated representative under the Acid Rain Program.
CO Authorized Alternate Account Representative. For a CO budget source and each CO budget unit at the source, the alternate natural person who is authorized by the owners and operators of the source and all CO budget units at the source, in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(2), to represent and legally bind each owner and operator in matters pertaining to the CO Budget Trading Program or, for a general account, the alternate natural person who is authorized, under 310 CMR 7.70(6), to transfer or otherwise dispose of CO2 allowances held in the general account. If the CO budget source is also subject to the Acid Rain Program, then, for a CO Budget Trading Program compliance account, this alternate natural person shall be the same person as the alternate designated representative under the Acid Rain Program.
CO Budget Emissions Control Plan. The legally binding permit issued by the Department pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(1)(e)1. and (3) to a CO2 budget source or CO2 budget unit which specifies the CO2 Budget Trading Program requirements applicable to the CO2 budget source, to each CO2 budget unit at the CO2 budget source, and to the owners and operators and the CO2 authorized account representative of the CO2 budget source and each CO2 budget unit.
CO 2 Budget Emissions Limitation. For a CO2 budget source, the tonnage equivalent, in CO2 emissions in a control period or an interim control period, of the CO allowances available for compliance deduction for the source for a control period or an interim control period.
CO 2 Budget Source. A source that includes one or more CO2 budget units.
CO Budget Trading Program. A multi-state CO air pollution control and emissions reduction program established by regulation in several states, including Massachusetts pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70, for the purpose of reducing emissions of CO2 from CO2 budget sources.
CO 2 Budget Unit. A unit that is subject to the CO2 Budget Trading Program requirements under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d).
CO Cost Containment Reserve Allowance or CO CCR Allowance. A CO allowance that is offered for sale at an auction by DOER in accordance with 225 CMR 13.00: DOER CO Budget Trading Program Auction Regulation for the purpose of containing the cost of CO2 allowances. CO CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to CO allowances from the CO Budget Trading Program base budget. CO CCR allowances are subject to all applicable limitations contained in 310 CMR 7.70 or equivalent regulations in other participating states.
CO Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) Trigger Price. The CCR trigger price is the minimum price at which CO CCR allowances are offered for sale in an auction. The CCR trigger prices shall be established by DOER in 225 CMR 13.03: Table 1.
CO Emissions Containment Reserve Allowance or CO ECR Allowance. A CO allowance that is withheld from sale at an auction by DOER in accordance with 225 CMR 13.00: DOER CO2 Budget Trading Program Auction Regulation for the purpose of additional emission reduction in the event of lower than anticipated emission reduction costs.
CO Emissions Containment Reserve (ECR) Trigger Price. The ECR trigger price is the price below which CO allowances will be withheld from sale at an auction. The ECR trigger prices shall be established by DOER in 225 CMR 13.03: Table 2.
CO Offset Allowance. A CO allowance that is awarded to the sponsor of a CO emissions offset project in any of the participating states that have an emissions offset program, and is subject to the relevant compliance deduction limitations of 310 CMR 7.70(6)(e)1.c.
Combined Cycle System. A system comprised of one or more combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators, and steam turbines configured to improve overall efficiency of electricity generation or steam production.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) CO 2 Budget Source. A CO2 Budget Source that contains one or more CO Budget Units which generate electricity and useful thermal energy in a single integrated system.
Combustion Turbine. An enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired device that is comprised of a compressor (if applicable), a combustor, and a turbine, and in which the flue gas resulting from the combustion of fuel in the combustor passes through the turbine, rotating the turbine.
Commence Commercial Operation. With regard to a unit that serves a generator, the date of commercial operation shall be when the unit begins to produce steam, gas, or other heated medium used to generate electricity for sale or use, including test generation. For a unit that is a CO budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) on the date the unit commences commercial operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. For a unit that is not a CO budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) on the date the unit commences commercial operation, the date the unit becomes a CO2 budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) shall be the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation.
Commence Operation. To begin any mechanical, chemical, or electronic process, including, with regard to a unit, startup of a unit's combustion chamber. For a unit that is a CO budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) on the date of commencement of operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. For a unit that is not a CO2 budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) on the date of commencement of operation, the date the unit becomes a CO2 budget unit under 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d) shall be the unit's date of commencement of operation
Compliance Account. A CO Allowance Tracking System account, established by the Department or its agent for a CO2 budget source under 310 CMR 7.70(6), in which are held CO allowances available for use by the source for a control period and each interim control period for the purpose of meeting the CO2 requirements of 310 CMR 7.70(1)(e)3.
Continuous Emissions Monitoring System or CEMS. The equipment required under 310 CMR 7.70(8) to sample, analyze, measure, and provide, by means of readings recorded at least once every 15 minutes (using an automated DAHS), a permanent record of stack gas volumetric flow rate, stack gas moisture content, and oxygen or carbon dioxide concentration (as applicable), in a manner consistent with 40 CFR Part 75 and 310 CMR 7.70(8).
Control Period. The control period is a three-calendar-year time period. The first control period is from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Each subsequent sequential three-calendar-year period is a separate control period. The first two calendar years of each control period are each defined as an interim control period, beginning on January 1, 2015.
DEPARTMENT. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (pursuant to St. 1989, c. 240, § 101, "¦the department of environmental quality engineering shall be known as the department of environmental protection").
Eligible Biomass. Eligible biomass includes sustainably harvested woody and herbaceous fuel sources that are available on a renewable or recurring basis (excluding old-growth timber), including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crop residues, aquatic plants, unadulterated wood and wood residues, animal wastes, other clean organic wastes not mixed with other solid wastes, and biogas derived from such fuel sources. Liquid biofuels do not qualify as eligible biomass. Sustainably harvested shall be determined by the Department.
Excess Emissions. Any tonnage of CO2 emitted by a CO2 budget source during a control period that exceeds the CO budget emissions limitation for the source.
Excess Interim Emissions. Any tonnage of CO emitted by a CO budget source during an interim control period multiplied by 0.50 that exceeds the CO budget emissions limitation for the source.
First Control Period Adjustment for Banked Allowances. An adjustment applied to the CO Budget Trading Program base budget for allocation years 2014 through 2020 to address the surplus allocation year 2009, 2010, and 2011 allowances held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(6), but not including accounts opened by participating states, that are in addition to the aggregate quality of first control period CO emissions from all CO budget sources in all of the participating states.
FOSSIL FUEL. Natural gas, petroleum, coal, or any form of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from such material.
Fossil Fuel-fired.
General Account. A CO Allowance Tracking System account, established under 310 CMR 7.70(6), that is not a compliance account.
Gross Generation. The electrical output (in MWe) at the terminals of the generator.
Interim Control Period. An interim control period is a one-calendar-year time period, during each of the first and second calendar years of each three year control period. The first interim control period starts on January 1, 2015 and ends on December 31, 2015. The second interim control period starts on January 1, 2016 and ends on December 31, 2016, inclusive. Each successive three-year control period will have two interim control periods, comprised of each three of the first two calendar years of that control period.
Life-of-the-unit Contractual Arrangement. A unit participation power sales agreement under which a customer reserves, or is entitled to receive, a specified amount or percentage of nameplate capacity and/or associated energy from any specified unit pursuant to a contract:
Massachusetts Auction Account. An account administered by DOER for purposes of auctioning CO allowances in accordance with 225 CMR 13.00: DOER CO Budget Trading Program Auction Regulation.
Massachusetts CO 2 Budget Trading Program Adjusted Budget. The Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Program adjusted budget is determined in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(5)(c)2. CO CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to CO allowances allocated from the Massachusetts CO Budget Trading Program adjusted budget.
Massachusetts CO 2 Budget Trading Program Base Budget. The Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Program base budget is specified in 310 CMR 7.70(5)(a). CO2 CCR Allowances offered for sale at auction are separate from and additional to CO allowances allocated from the Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Program base budget.
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources or DOER. The Massachusetts agency established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, §§ 1 through 13.
Maximum Potential Hourly Heat Input. An hourly heat input used for reporting purposes when a unit lacks certified monitors to report heat input. If the unit intends to use Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 75 to report heat input, this value should be calculated, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 75, using the maximum fuel flow rate and the maximum gross calorific value. If the unit intends to use a flow monitor and a diluent gas monitor, this value should be reported, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 75, using the maximum potential flowrate and either the maximum carbon dioxide concentration (in percent CO) or the minimum oxygen concentration (in percent O).
Monitoring System. Any monitoring system that meets the requirements of 310 CMR 7.70(8), including a continuous emissions monitoring system, an excepted monitoring system, or an alternative monitoring system.
Nameplate Capacity. The maximum electrical output (in MWe) that a generator can sustain over a specified period of time when not restricted by seasonal or other deratings as measured in accordance with the United States Department of Energy standards.
Net-electric Output. The amount of gross generation the generator(s) produce (including, but not limited to, output from steam turbine(s), combustion turbine(s), and gas expander(s)), as measured at the generator terminals, less the electricity used to operate the plant (i.e., auxiliary loads); such uses include fuel handling equipment, pumps, fans, pollution control equipment, other electricity needs, and transformer losses as measured at the transmission side of the step up transformer (e.g., the point of sale).
Non-CO Budget Unit. A unit that does not meet the applicability criteria of 310 CMR 7.70(1)(d).
Operator. Any person who operates, controls, or supervises a CO2 budget unit or a CO2 budget source and shall include, but not be limited to, any holding company, utility system, or plant manager of such a unit or source.
Owner. Any of the following persons:
Participating State. A state that is a member of the CO Budget Trading Program and has promulgated a regulation consistent with 310 CMR 7.70.
Receive or Receipt of. When referring to the Department or its agent, to come into possession of a document, information, or correspondence (whether sent in writing or by authorized electronic transmission), as indicated in an official correspondence log, or by a notation made on the document, information, or correspondence, by the Department or its agent in the regular course of business.
Recordation, Record, or Recorded. With regard to CO2 allowances, the movement of CO2 allowances by the Department or its agent from one CO Allowance Tracking System account to another.
Second Control Period Adjustment for Banked Allowances. An adjustment applied to the Massachusetts CO Budget Trading Program base budget for allocation years 2015 through 2020 to address the allocation year 2012 and 2013 allowances held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to the CO2 Budget Trading Program, but not including accounts opened by participating states, that are in addition to the aggregate quantity of 2012 and 2013 emissions from all CO budget sources in all of the participating states.
Serial Number. When referring to CO allowances, the unique identification number assigned to each CO allowance by the Department or its agent under 310 CMR 7.70(6)(d)4.
Source. Any governmental, institutional, commercial, or industrial structure, installation, plant, building, or facility that emits or has the potential to emit any air pollutant. A "source," including a "source" with multiple units, shall be considered a single "facility."
State. A U.S. State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa and includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Submit or Serve. To send or transmit a document, information, or correspondence to the person specified in accordance with the applicable regulation:
Third Adjustment for Banked Allowances . An adjustment applied to the Massachusetts CO Budget Trading Program base budget for allocation years 2021 through 2025 to address allowances held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to the CO2 Budget Trading Program, but not including accounts opened by participating states, that are in addition to the aggregate quantity of emissions from all CO budget sources in all of the participating states at the end of the fourth control period in 2020 and as reflected in the CO Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.
Ton or Tonnage. Any "short ton", or 2,000 pounds. For the purpose of compliance with the CO requirements of 310 CMR 7.70(1)(e)3., total tons for a control period and each interim control period shall be calculated as the sum of all recorded hourly emissions (or the tonnage equivalent of the recorded hourly emissions rates) in accordance with 310 CMR 7.70(8), with any remaining fraction of a ton equal to or greater than 0.50 ton deemed to equal one ton and any fraction of a ton less than 0.50 ton deemed to equal zero tons. A short ton is equal to 0.9072 metric tons.
Undistributed CO Allowances. CO allowances originally allocated to an account pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(5)(c) that were not distributed.
Unit. A fossil fuel-fired stationary boiler, combustion turbine, or combined cycle system.
Unit Operating Day. A calendar day in which a unit combusts any fuel.
Useful Net Thermal Energy. Energy:
Useful Thermal Energy Account. An account established for the purpose of retiring allowances pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(5)(c)5.b.
Unsold CO Allowances. CO allowances that have been made available for sale in an auction conducted by DOER, but not sold.
Voluntary Renewable Energy Account. An account established for the purpose of retiring allowances pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(5)(c)1.a.iii.
(2) CO 2 Authorized Account Representative for CO 2 Budget Sources.
(3) CO Budget Emission Control Plan Requirements.
(4) COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION.
(5) CO Allowance Allocations.
First Control Period Adjustment for Banked Allowances |
||||||
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
1,324,595 |
Second Control Period Adjustment for Banked Allowances |
|||||
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2,208,353 |
2,208,353 |
2,208,353 |
2,208,353 |
2,208,353 |
2,208,353 |
TABA = ((TA - TAE)/5) x RS%
Where:
TABA is the third adjustment for banked allowances quantity in tons.
TA, third adjustment, is the total quantity of allowances of vintage years prior to 2021 held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to the CO2 Budget Trading Program, but not including accounts opened by participating states, as reflected in the CO Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.
TAE, third adjustment emissions, is the total quantity of 2018, 2019 and 2020 emissions from all CO2 budget sources in all participating states, reported pursuant to CO Budget Trading Program as reflected in the CO Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.
RS% is the Massachusetts 2021 Base Budget/The total of the 2021 Base Budgets for all the Participating States.
Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Adjusted Budgets |
||
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
9,550,650 |
9,223,560 |
8,904,648 |
AB = BB - TABA Where:
AB is the Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Program adjusted budget.
BB is the Massachusetts CO2 Budget Trading Program base budget.
TABA is the third adjustment for banked allowances quantity in tons.
Table 1. Massachusetts CCR Allowances from 2021 Forward |
|||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 and each year thereafter |
1,194,435 |
1,158,240 |
1,122,045 |
1,085,850 |
1,049,655 |
1,013,460 |
977,265 |
941,070 |
904,875 |
868,680 |
Table 2. Massachusetts ECR Allowances 2021 Forward |
|||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 and each year thereafter |
1,194,436 |
1,158,240 |
1,122,045 |
1,085,850 |
1,049,655 |
1,013,460 |
977,265 |
941,070 |
904,875 |
868,680 |
(6) CO 2 Allowance Tracking System.
(7) CO Allowance Transfers.
(8) Monitoring and Reporting.
where:
Fj = Total eligible biomass dry basis fuel input (lbs) for fuel type j;
Fi = Eligible biomass as-fired fuel input (lbs) for fired shipment i;
Mi = Moisture content (fraction) for fired shipment i;
I = fired fuel shipment;
j = fuel type; and m = number of shipments.
Fj =Dj x Vj x (1 - Mj)
where:
Fj = Total eligible biomass dry basis fuel input (lbs) for fuel type j;
Dj = Density of biogas (lbs/scf) for fuel type j;
Vj = Total volume (scf) for fuel type j;
M = Moisture content (fraction) for fuel type j, j = fuel type.
where:
CO2 tons = CO2 emissions due to firing of eligible biomass for the reporting quarter;
Fj = Total eligible biomass dry basis fuel input (lbs) for fuel type j, as calculated in 310 CMR 7.70(8)(g)2.;
Cj = Carbon fraction (dry basis) for fuel type j;
Oj = Oxidation factor for eligible biomass fuel type j, derived for solid fuels based on the ash content of the eligible biomass fired and the carbon content of this ash, as determined pursuant to 310 CMR 7.70(8)(g)1.l. for gaseous eligible biomass fuels, a default oxidation factor of 0.995 may be used;
44/12 = The number of tons of carbon dioxide that are created when one ton of carbon is combusted (44/12);
0.0005 = The number of short tons which is equal to one pound;
j = fuel type; and n = number of distinct fuel types.
H = F x HHV where:
Hj = Heat input (MMBtu) for fuel type j;
F = Total eligible biomass dry basis fuel input (lbs) for fuel type j, as calculated in 310 CMR 7.71(8)(g)2.;
HHVj = Higher heating value (MMBtu/lb), dry basis, for fuel type j, as determined through chemical analysis;
j = fuel type.
where:
Hj = Heat input (MMBtu) for fuel type j;
j = fuel type; and,
n = number of distinct fuel types.
UNTE/.80 x 122 lb/MMBtu
2000 lb/ton
Where:
UNTE = useful net thermal energy (in MMBtu output) generated by CO2 budget units at the combined heat and power CO2 budget source during each calendar quarter.