15 U.S.C. § 792 — Coal conversion and allocation

(a) The Administrator^* must order a powerplant, and may order another major fuel-burning installation, not to burn natural gas or petroleum as its primary energy source if subsection (b) is met and either: (A) on June 22, 1974, or afterward, the plant had, acquired, or was designed with the equipment and ability to burn coal; or (B) subsection (c) requires coal-capable design or construction. (b)(1) An order may issue only if the Administrator finds coal burning instead of petroleum or gas is practicable and consistent with this chapter, coal and transportation will be available while the order operates, and, for a powerplant, the order will not harm service reliability in its area. The order must be rescinded or changed when a requirement no longer holds and may be changed if the changed order complies with this section. (2) For an order ending by June 30, 1975, the Administrator must give public notice and allow written presentations, consult the EPA Administrator, and consider the likelihood of coal permission after that date. The order cannot take effect before the EPA Administrator certifies the earliest compliance date for air-pollution requirements and cannot operate during a period the EPA Administrator certifies under section 1857c–10(d)(3)(B) of title 42. (3) For an order applying after June 30, 1975, or a modification extending one, the Administrator must give public notice and allow oral and written presentations. It cannot take effect until EPA says the plant can burn coal and meet air rules without a compliance extension, or, if EPA does not give that notice, until EPA certifies the earliest compliance date. It cannot operate during an EPA-certified excluded period. (c) The Administrator may require a powerplant or other major fuel-burning installation in early planning, except a combustion gas turbine or combined-cycle unit, to be designed and built to use coal primarily. The Administrator may not impose that requirement if, for a powerplant, it likely would impair reliable or adequate service, or if a reliable coal supply is not expected. The Administrator must consider construction contracts and the owner’s ability to recover resulting capital investment. (d) By rule or order, the Administrator may allocate coal to a plant or installation with an (a) order, or to another person as needed for this chapter. (e) “Powerplant” means a fossil-fuel-fired electric generating unit producing electricity for sale or exchange. “Coal” includes coal derivatives. (f)(1) Authority to issue orders or rules under (a)–(d) ended at midnight December 31, 1978, but a rule or order could take effect before January 1, 1985. (2) Authority to amend, repeal, rescind, modify, or enforce those rules or orders ended at midnight December 31, 1984, but that ending does not affect an administrative or judicial proceeding about an act or omission before January 1, 1985.