Diverse Pathways for Power Sector Decarbonization in Texas Yield Health Cobenefits but Fail to Alleviate Air Pollution Exposure Inequities
Qian Luo, Brenna Copeland, Fernando Garcia–Menendez, Jeremiah X. Johnson
Abstract
emissions and public health impacts from power sector emissions, leading to large net benefits when considering the costs to implement these strategies. Operational changes with existing infrastructure can serve as a transitional strategy during the process of replacing coal with renewable energy, which offers the largest benefits. However, we also find that Black and lower-income populations receive disproportionately higher air pollution damages and that none of the examined decarbonization strategies mitigate this disparity. These findings suggest that additional interventions are necessary to mitigate environmental inequity while decarbonizing power grids.
Topics & Concepts
Renewable energyNatural resource economicsClimate changeAir pollutionEnvironmental sciencePublic healthBusinessEnvironmental economicsEnvironmental healthEconomicsEngineeringMedicineEcologyElectrical engineeringChemistryOrganic chemistryNursingBiologyAtmospheric and Environmental Gas DynamicsAir Quality and Health ImpactsEnergy, Environment, and Transportation Policies