Our Air: Health and Equity Impacts of Ohio's Power Plants

NextGen Climate America, in partnership with PSE Healthy Energy, is proud to announce the release of "Our Air." These reports examine the health and equity impacts of fossil fuel power plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio – two of the heaviest carbon pollution emitters in the U.S.Fossil fuel power accounted for two-thirds of our electricity generation last year, with roughly equal contributions from coal and natural gas sources. The burning of these fuels is a major contributor to climate change, which affects communities around the world. But, the immediate health effects of fossil fuel power plants are felt locally because they contribute to dangerous levels of air and water pollution in neighboring communities, in addition to contributing to climate change.A new set of reports by NextGen Climate America and PSE Healthy Energy found that in 2015, particle pollution from power plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio was responsible for more than 4400 deaths and more than $38 billion in health impacts. These states host coal and natural gas power plants that are disproportionately located in vulnerable and environmentally overburdened communities: more than 85% of fossil plants are located in areas with high concentrations of low-income and/or minority residents across the two states