On December 31, 2011, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Administration of Quality Supervision jointly released the updated "Emission Standards for Air Pollutants from Thermal Power Plants," which came into effect on January 1, 2012. According to Tao Detian, a spokesperson for the Ministry, the new regulations are expected to significantly cut down on harmful emissions while also driving innovation in environmental technologies and boosting related industries. It is estimated that this will create around 2,600 environmental protection and equipment manufacturing companies, generating a market worth billions of yuan.

Wu Xiaoqing, vice minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, emphasized that compared to the 2003 standards, the new rules have drastically lowered the limits for nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and soot. Special emission limits were introduced for key regions and areas with high environmental sensitivity, including stricter controls on mercury and gas boiler emissions. The standards also differentiate between existing and new thermal power projects, setting a two-and-a-half-year transition period for older plants to meet the requirements. This allows time for necessary upgrades and renovations. Each limit in the new standard corresponds to an established and reliable control technology, ensuring a comprehensive approach to pollution management.

The implementation of these new standards requires the thermal power industry to increase its investment in environmental protection measures. However, according to Wu, the cost-benefit ratio remains reasonable. By 2015, it is projected that about 817 million kilowatts of existing and new units will be equipped with nitrogen oxide removal systems, requiring an investment of approximately 195 billion yuan and an annual operating cost of around 61.2 billion yuan. Additionally, dust removal and desulfurization facilities will require about 65 billion yuan in investments. Companies can offset some of these costs through preferential electricity pricing policies.

In 2009, China emitted approximately 16.927 million tons of nitrogen oxides and 22.144 million tons of carbon dioxide, with the power sector accounting for nearly 49% and 46.4% of the national totals, respectively. With the new standards in place, by 2015, the power industry is expected to reduce nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide emissions by 580,618 tons. Moreover, the new regulations are also anticipated to bring significant reductions in particulate matter and mercury emissions, further improving air quality and public health outcomes.