---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 8311"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "8311"
heading: "Coal capability of new electric powerplants; certification of compliance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/8311"
units:
  - "Chapter 92 — Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use"
  - "Subchapter II — New Facilities"
  - "Part A — Prohibitions"
---

# §8311. Coal capability of new electric powerplants; certification of compliance

- (a) **General prohibition—** Except to such extent as may be authorized under part B, no [new electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-8) may be constructed or operated as a [base load powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-C) without the capability to use [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) as a [primary energy source](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-15).
- (b) **Capability to use coal or alternate fuel—** An [electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) has the capability to use [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) for purposes of this section if such [electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A)—
  - (1) has sufficient inherent design characteristics to permit the addition of equipment (including all necessary pollution devices) necessary to render such [electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) capable of using [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) as its [primary energy source](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-15); and
  - (2) is not physically, structurally, or technologically precluded from using [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) as its [primary energy source](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-15).

  Capability to use [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) shall not be interpreted to require any such [powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) to be immediately able to use [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6) as its [primary energy source](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-15) on its initial day of operation.

- (c) **Applicability to base load powerplants—**
  - (1) This section shall apply only to [base load powerplants](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-C), and shall not apply to [peakload powerplants](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-A) or [intermediate load powerplants](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-B).
  - (2) For the purposes of this section, hours of electrical generation pursuant to emergency situations, as defined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1) and reported to the [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1), shall not be included in a determination of whether a [powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) is being operated as a [base load powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-C).
- (d) **Self-certification—**
  - (1) In order to meet the requirement of [subsection (a)](#a), the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) or operator of any [new electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-8) to be operated as a [base load powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-C) proposing to use [natural gas](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-3-A) or [petroleum](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-4) as its [primary energy source](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-15) shall certify to the [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1) prior to [construction](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-14), or prior to operation as a [base load powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-C) in the case of a [new electric powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-8) operated as a [peakload powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-A) or [intermediate load powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-18-B), that such [powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) has capability to use [coal](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-5) or another [alternate fuel](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-6), within the meaning of [subsection (b)](#b). Such certification shall be effective to establish compliance with the requirement of [subsection (a)](#a) as of the date it is filed with the [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1). Within 15 days after receipt of a certification submitted pursuant to this paragraph, the [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice reciting that the certification has been filed.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-1), within 60 days after the filing of a certification under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), may require the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) or operator of such [powerplant](/usc/42/8302.md?p=a-7-A) to provide such supporting documents as may be necessary to verify the certification.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–620, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3298; Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(4)(A), May 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 311.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–42 substituted “Coal capability of new electric powerplants; certification of compliance” for “New electric powerplants” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Except to such extent as may be authorized under part B—

“(1) natural gas or petroleum shall not be used as a primary energy source in any new electric powerplant; and

“(2) no new electric powerplant may be constructed without the capability to use coal or any other alternate fuel as a primary energy source.”