Special Environmental Assessment of the impacts of DOE issuing an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to the PJM Interconnection on December 24, 2022.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 29, 2024
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On December 24, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a 3-day emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM). The emergency order authorized specific electric generating units to operate at their maximum generation output levels as directed by PJM to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system during ongoing extreme weather conditions. Two generating units owned by Calpine located in Bethlehem and Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania ran as allowed in the order. DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response prepared a special environmental analysis that evaluated whether any emissions during operation outside of permit limits led to exceedance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards or Pennsylvania Ambient Air Quality Standards, potential environmental justice impacts, and the robustness of community engagement plans.
For more information, see Federal Power Act Section 202(c): PJM December 2022.