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New SPE Study: Power Plant Standards and Public Health
On June 2, 2014, the EPA released the nation’s first-ever carbon pollution standards for existing power plants. Released today is part 2 of a 3-part study, in which Science Policy Exchange researchers analyze the impact of different policy options for power plant carbon standards on clean air and public health.
"Health Co-Benefits of Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants" shows that, of the three options analyzed, the carbon standard that is moderately stringent and highly flexible with the greatest amount of energy efficiency provides the largest health co-benefits—saving thousands of lives in the U.S. every year from premature death related to air pollution.
By contrasting these different options, the authors also found that the magnitude and extent of the health co-benefits will depend on critical policy decisions in the final standards.
The study was co-authored by scientists and public health experts from Syracuse University, the Harvard School of Public Health, the School of Public Health at Boston University, and the Harvard Forest
- Explore part 2 of the Carbon Co-Benefits Study: "Health Co-Benefits of Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants"
- Browse news media covering the study: WAMC, Huffington Post
- Revisit part 1 of the Carbon Co-Benefits Study: "Air Pollution Changes Under Different 111d Options for Existing Power Plants"
- Learn more about the Science Policy Exchange.
