Tech Update Published on Water Quality Trading Pilot Programs
Program on Technology Innovation: Water Quality Trading Pilot Programs:  Review of Catawba River Basin, Chesapeake Bay, and Ohio River Pilot Projects (1015409).  Water quality trading (WQT) has potential as an alternate means for power facilities to meet compliance goals with nutrient discharge limits, particularly for nitrogen.  EPRI is working to identify and conduct a feasibility study for a WQT pilot project involving one or more power companies.  This Technical Update summarizes general information on three potential pilot project locations, describes the screening criteria used to evaluate the potential of each project location, and completes an analysis of site strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks for each.  Three potential WQT pilot programs were reviewed and assessed:  the Ohio River Basin, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Catawba River Basin.  The Ohio River Program was chosen as the most promising site following an evaluation based on 11 key components for success.  For more information, contact Jessica Fox, (650) 855-2138, jfox@epri.com.