Closing Coal Plants in Environmental Justice Communities First Would Save More Lives: Study
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“This study offers a model for balancing environmental, economic and social goals.”
As coal-fired power plants shut down in favor of cleaner, cheaper energy sources, prioritizing the shut-down of the plants in vulnerable communities could yield greater public health benefits and save additional lives, according to a new study.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, suggests that decreases in emissions from prioritizing environmental justice while phasing out Pennsylvania’s coal power plants could eventually prevent up to 136 premature deaths caused by air pollution across Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., which are served by the same regional power generation network.
“This study offers a model for balancing environmental, economic and social goals, shaping a healthier future for vulnerable communities,” Emily Pakhtigian, an assistant professor of public policy at Penn State and a co-lead author on the study, said in a statement.
Coal-fired power plants emit many health-harming pollutants, including carbon and sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and heavy metals, which are linked to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease among other health problems. 01-17-25
