Senate Republicans are struggling to find common ground with their Democratic counterparts to push ahead on a White House-backed bill to trim powerplant emissions. But the continued uncertainty over that legislation doesnt appear to be hampering design and construction firms that upgrade existing plants or build new ones. One reason: the Environmental Protection Agency is set to unveil two separate final rules in mid-March to regulate mercury and require reduced emissions of other pollutants from facilities in 29 eastern states.
"We havent changed any of our retrofit or construction plans," says Melissa McHenry, a spokeswoman for American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio. Christy Zeltner, manager of market research for Black & Veatch Corp., Overland Park, Kan., says, "We dont foresee our clients slowing down any in installing pollution-control equipment."