Fuel resource scheduling with emission constraints

With the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, electric utilities in the United States are faced with a two-phased program for emissions control. The particular emphasis on sulfur dioxide (SO₂ ) will require utilities to limit emissions to a specific number of tons per year allocated to the generating units in that utility. The first phase takes effect in January 1995, and includes only the largest SO₂ emitters. Phase 2 begins in January 2000, and will cover virtually all power plants. In light of these new environmental protection requirements, a new look must be taken at utility operating practices and, therefore, at the software tools used to implement those practices. This paper addresses the operating concerns of one coal-burning utility, Big Rivers Electric Corporation, including fuel contract planning and unit dispatching given fuel and SO₂ emissions constraints