(a) On and after January 1, 2005, the owner or operator of a Title IV source that is also an affected unit or units shall:

(1) Combust liquid fuel, gaseous fuel, solid fuel or a combination of each provided that each fuel possesses a fuel sulfur limit equal to or less than 0.3 per cent sulfur, by weight (dry basis); or

(2) Meet an average emission rate equal to or less than 0.33 pounds SO₂ per MMBtu for each calendar quarter for an affected unit at the premises; or

(3) Meet an average emission rate equal to or less than 0.3 pounds SO₂ per MMBtu calculated for each calendar quarter, if such owner or operator averages the emissions from two or more affected units at the premises.

(b) On and after January 1, 2005, no owner or operator of a Title IV source that is also an affected unit or units may use SO₂ DERCs or SO₂ allowances to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section except if the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection requires the owner or operator of an affected unit or units using a low-sulfur fuel to comply with subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section to offset excess SO₂ emissions that were emitted during a suspension period, as described in subsection (c) of this section, through the purchase or retirement of such SO₂ DERCs or SO₂ allowances.

(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may suspend the requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section for the owner or operator of any affected unit using a low-sulfur fuel, including a low-sulfur solid fuel. Such suspension shall be made only when the commissioner finds that the availability of fuel that complies with such requirements is inadequate to meet the needs of residential, commercial and industrial users in this state and that such inadequate supply constitutes an emergency, provided such suspension shall not exceed the period that the inadequate supply constitutes an emergency. Any such suspension by the commissioner shall not suspend or alter the sulfur dioxide average emission rate requirements that are in effect as of May 2, 2002. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall specify in writing the period of time that such suspension shall be in effect and shall provide notice of such suspension to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and technology. No later than thirty days after the termination of such suspension, the owner or operator of an affected unit or units shall report to the commissioner, in writing, the amount of SO₂ emissions in excess of those that would have occurred if the use of compliant fuel at such affected unit or units had not been interrupted. If such excess SO₂ emissions from any premises exceed fifty tons, the commissioner shall require that the owner or operator of such affected unit or units offset such SO₂ emissions through the purchase or retirement of SO₂ DERCs or SO₂ allowances.

(d) The provisions of subsections (c) and (f) of this section, when implemented by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall not suspend any underlying procedures or requirements in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies adopted by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection pertaining to SO₂ emissions.

(e) No provision of § 22a-197, this section or subsection (a) of § 16-245l shall be construed to prohibit the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection from waiving or suspending any applicable sulfur dioxide emissions standard as may be allowed under current federal or state laws or regulations, or other permit limits of a must run Title IV source, as ordered by the Independent System Operator, as may be allowed under current federal or state laws or regulations. The commissioner may attach any conditions to such suspension or waiver, as the commissioner deems necessary to mitigate any adverse environmental or public health impacts.

(f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, may suspend the prohibition of subsection (b) of this section for a Title IV source if it is determined that the application of the prohibition established under subsection (b) of this section adversely affects the ability to meet the reliability standards, as defined by the New England Power Pool or its successor organization, and the suspension thereof is intended to mitigate such reliability problems. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, shall specify in writing the reasons for such suspension and the period of time that such suspension shall be in effect and shall provide notice of such suspension at the time of issuance, or the next business day, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and technology. No such waiver shall last more than thirty days. The commissioner may reissue additional waivers for such source after said initial waiver has expired. Within ten days of receipt of the commissioner’s notice of suspension, the committees having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and technology may hold a joint public hearing and meeting of the committees to either modify or reject the commissioner’s suspension by a majority vote. If the committees do not meet, the commissioner’s suspension shall be deemed approved.