The mortality impacts of current and planned coal-fired power plants in India
Maureen Cropper, Ryna Cui, Sarath Guttikunda, Nate Hultman, Puja Jawahar, Yongjoon Park, Xinlu Yao, Xiao‐Peng Song
Abstract
Significance Under current operating conditions, coal-fired power plants in India generate significant amounts of particulate air pollution. We quantify the impact of plants operating in 2018 and plants in the planning stage as of 2019 on ambient PM 2.5 and on premature mortality. The health damages from coal-fired power plants can be avoided by replacing coal-fired power plants with renewable energy sources, which will also reduce GHG emissions. Taxing electricity generated from coal at a rate that reflects the value of health damages would incentivize the adoption of renewable energy. We calculate the magnitude of this tax. We also discuss the health benefits of reducing power plant emissions by implementing India’s emission control laws enacted in 2015 but not yet in force.