IC 8-1-8.7
Chapter 8.7. Clean Coal Technology
IC 8-1-8.7-1
"Clean coal technology"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "clean coal technology" means a
technology (including precombustion treatment of coal):
(1) that is used in a new or existing electric generating facility
and directly or indirectly reduces airborne emissions of sulfur
or nitrogen based pollutants associated with the combustion or
use of coal; and
(2) that either:
(A) is not in general commercial use at the same or greater
scale in new or existing facilities in the United States as of
January 1, 1989; or
(B) has been selected by the United States Department of
Energy for funding under its Innovative Clean Coal
Technology program and is finally approved for such
funding on or after January 1, 1989.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-2
"Public utility"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "public utility" means a public or
municipally owned utility.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-3
Certificate of public convenience and necessity; use of clean coal
technology
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), a public utility
may not use clean coal technology at a new or existing electric
generating facility without first applying for and obtaining from the
commission a certificate that states that public convenience and
necessity will be served by the use of clean coal technology.
(b) The commission shall issue a certificate of public convenience
and necessity under subsection (a) if the commission finds that a
clean coal technology project offers substantial potential of reducing
sulfur or nitrogen based pollutants in a more efficient manner than
conventional technologies in general use as of January 1, 1989. For
purposes of this chapter, a project that the United States Department
of Energy has selected for funding under its Innovative Clean Coal
Technology program and is finally approved for funding after
December 31, 1988, is not considered a conventional technology in
general use as of January 1, 1989. When determining whether to
grant a certificate under this section, the commission shall examine
the following factors:
(1) The costs for constructing, implementing, and using clean
coal technology compared to the costs for conventional
emission reduction facilities.
(2) Whether a clean coal technology project will also extend the
useful life of an existing electric generating facility and the
value of that extension.
(3) The potential reduction of sulfur and nitrogen based
pollutants achieved by the proposed clean coal technology
system.
(4) The reduction of sulfur nitrogen based pollutants that can be
achieved by conventional pollution control equipment.
(5) Federal sulfur and nitrogen based pollutant emission
standards.
(6) The likelihood of success of the proposed project.
(7) The cost and feasibility of the retirement of an existing
electric generating facility.
(8) The dispatching priority for the facility utilizing clean coal
technology, considering direct fuel costs, revenues and
expenses of the utility, and environmental factors associated
with byproducts resulting from the utilization of the clean coal
technology.
(9) Any other factors the commission considers relevant,
including whether the construction, implementation, and use of
clean coal technology is in the public's interest.
(c) A public utility is not required to obtain a certificate under this
chapter for a clean coal technology project that constitutes a research
and development project that may be expensed under IC 8-1-2-6.1.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-4
Hearings and requisite findings; estimated costs; use of Indiana
coal
Sec. 4. (a) As a condition for receiving the certificate required
under section 3 of this chapter, an applicant must file an estimate of
the cost of constructing, implementing, and using clean coal
technology and supportive technical information in as much detail as
the commission requires.
(b) The commission shall hold a public hearing on each
application. A certificate shall be granted only if the commission has:
(1) made a finding that the public convenience and necessity
will be served by the construction, implementation, and use of
clean coal technology;
(2) approved the estimated costs;
(3) made a finding that the facility where the clean coal
technology is employed:
(A) utilizes and will continue to utilize Indiana coal as its
primary fuel source; or
(B) is justified, because of economic considerations or
governmental requirements, in utilizing non-Indiana coal;
after the technology is in place; and
(4) made a finding on each of the factors described in section
3(b) of this chapter, including the dispatching priority of the
facility to the utility.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-5
Modification or revocation of certificate
Sec. 5. When, in the opinion of the commission, changes in the
estimate of the cost or the need for clean coal technology occur, the
commission shall immediately commence a review of the certificate
granted under this chapter to determine if public convenience and
necessity will be served by the implementation of the technology. If
the commission finds that implementation of the technology will not
serve the public convenience and necessity, the commission may
modify or revoke the certificate.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-6
Cancellation of clean coal technology implementation; recovery of
expenditures
Sec. 6. If a public utility cancels the implementation of the
technology as a result of the modification or revocation of a
certificate by the commission under section 5 of this chapter, the
public utility may recover the amount of its investment in the
technology, along with a reasonable return on the unamortized
balance. The utility may not recover on amounts expended in excess
of the cost estimates approved by the commission under section 4 of
this chapter unless the utility can prove to the commission that those
expenditures were necessary and prudent. The recovery must be
made over a reasonable period of time through rates charged by the
public utility. A recovery may not be made if there was fraud,
concealment, or gross mismanagement on the part of the public
utility.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-7
Ongoing review of construction and costs
Sec. 7. (a) This section does not apply if the utility elects the
review described in section 8 of this chapter.
(b) In addition to the review of the continuing need for the clean
coal technology system under construction prescribed in section 5 of
this chapter, the commission shall at the request of the public utility
maintain an ongoing review of that construction as the construction
proceeds. The applicant shall submit each year during construction,
or at other times as the commission and the public utility mutually
agree, a progress report and any revisions in the cost estimates for the
construction. The commission must hold a public hearing before it
may approve or deny a proposed increase in the cost estimates for the
implementation, construction, or use of clean coal technology.
(c) If the commission approves the construction and the cost of
the part of the clean coal technology system under review, the
approval forecloses subsequent challenges to the inclusion of that
part of the clean coal technology system in the public utility's rate
base on the basis of excessive cost, inadequate quality control, or
inability to employ the technology.
(d) If the commission disapproves of all or part of the construction
or cost of the part of the clean coal technology system under review,
the commission may modify or revoke the certificate. If the public
utility cancels construction of the clean coal technology system as a
result of the modification or revocation of the certificate, the utility
may recover over a reasonable period of time through rates, absent
fraud, concealment, or gross mismanagement, the amount of its
investment in the clean coal technology system along with a
reasonable return on the unamortized balance to the extent the
construction and the cost were approved previously by the
commission.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-8
Review of completed construction; costs exceeding estimated and
approved costs
Sec. 8. A public utility may elect to forgo any commission review
of the construction and cost until completion of the clean coal
technology system. If the commission has annually approved the
continuing need for the project under section 5 of this chapter, and
to the extent the public utility seeks to add to the rate base an amount
that does not exceed that filed under section 4(a) of this chapter, the
inclusion of that amount may be challenged only on the basis of
inadequate quality controls. However, inclusion of costs in excess of
those approved by the commission under section 4(b)(2) of this
chapter is not permitted unless the public utility shows those costs to
be necessary and prudent.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-9
Dispatching priority
Sec. 9. After the commission has made a finding under section
4(b)(4) of this chapter as to the dispatching priority of a facility
utilizing clean coal technology, the utility receiving the certificate
under this chapter may dispatch the facility for which the certificate
is issued in accordance with such finding, and such dispatch shall not
be considered to be in conflict with the provisions of IC 8-1-2-42.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.
IC 8-1-8.7-10
Construction of electric generating facilities; additional
certification; joint applications
Sec. 10. (a) This chapter does not relieve a public utility of the
duty to obtain a certificate under IC 8-1-8.5 if the utility is proposing
the use of clean coal technology as a part of the construction of an
electric generating facility.
(b) A public utility seeking a certificate under IC 8-1-8.5 and this
chapter for one (1) project may file a joint application for both
certificates. If a joint application is filed, the commission shall
jointly consider both certificates.
As added by P.L.105-1989, SEC.4.