California air regulators can now enforce stricter turbine emissions

US environmental regulators are approving a change to how California's Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District manages air pollution. This change allows the district to enforce new local rules for nitrogen oxide emissions from stationary gas turbines.

Local air districts often struggle to enforce their own rules if those rules are not formally approved by federal environmental regulators. This approval means the Eastern Kern district now has the full backing of the US environmental regulators to make sure gas turbines in its area meet stricter emission standards. This could lead to cleaner air in the region, as operators will face real penalties for non-compliance.