Assess the impacts DOE issuing an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on February 4, 2021.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
July 21, 2021
minute read time
DOE’s Office of Electricity issued an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on February 14, 2021. The emergency order permitted ERCOT to operate specific electric generating units at their maximum generation output levels due to extremely low temperatures in Texas and the surrounding region that would lead to electric demand outpacing available generation. ERCOT's application stated that numerous generation units would be unable to operate at full capacity without violating federal air quality or other permit limitations. DOE Office of Electricity prepared a special environmental analysis that evaluated whether exceedances of permitted emissions levels by the covered power units during February 15–19 led to exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The report included an environmental justice analysis of the communities potentially affected by additional emissions during this period.