The Pella City Council spoke about a federal regulation change regarding the Diesel Power Plant at this weeks Policy and Planning Meeting. The EPA has issued a new rule set for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines. The RICE regulation states that the city must reduce Carbon Monoxide production at the power plant by about 70%. In order to achieve that goal, catalytic converters must be installed on the building’s exhaust ports, as well as some other changes. The projects will cost about 1.2 million dollars. Pella City Administrator Mike Nardini says that the city has delayed starting work on the project as long as possible because of how little the power plant is used. If the city does not finish the improvements before the deadline of May of 2013, the city could face severe fines. The diesel power plant in Pella is used mainly as a backup power source, generally less then 200 hours a year.