For the first time in its history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued final rules that will cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States.

This action limits mercury air emissions from existing cement kilns, strengthens the limits for new kilns and sets emission limits that will reduce acid gases. This final action also limits particle pollution from new and existing kilns, and sets new-kiln limits for particle and smog-forming nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
When fully implemented in 2013, the EPA estimates annual emissions will be reduced as follows:

• Mercury – 16,600 pounds (92%)
• Total hydrocarbons – 10,600 tons (83%)
• Particulate Matter – 11,500 tons (92%)
• Acid gases – (measured as hydrochloric acid): 5,800 tons (97%)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)– 110,000 tons (78%)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – 6,600 tons (5%)

The EPA estimates that the rules will yield $6.7 billion to $18 billion in health and environmental benefits, with costs estimated at $926 million to $950 million annually in 2013.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html.

German Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen announced on July 29 that offshore wind power companies can rely on government guarantees to finance 10 wind energy mega-projects in the North and Baltic seas.

The projects involve the development of 10,000 MW of offshore wind farm capacity within the next 10 years, and 25,000 MW in the next 20 years.

The German government is finalizing its energy plans for the next 40 years. Röttgen believes that Germany can reach nearly 100% renewable energy by 2050, with wind power providing approximately 50% of that power.

For Europe as a whole, offshore wind power growth is robust. In 2010, Europe’s offshore wind farm installation has proliferated, with more MW installed in the first half of 2010 than in the same period of 2009.