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The analysis finds that recent federal policy shifts—including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the repeal of various EPA standards—will lead to higher energy costs for households, significant GDP and job losses, and increased healthcare spending due to worsening air pollution. While a temporary boom in renewables is expected due to safe-harbor tax credit rules through 2030, the report forecasts a sharp contraction in clean energy capacity and a continued reliance on coal power after 2031.

The report highlights that over 66 million people in the US live near freight facilities, with higher concentrations of warehouses linked to increased cancer risks and air pollution. It advocates for Indirect Source Rules (ISRs), which require facilities to mitigate the 'indirect' emissions they attract, citing California's WAIRE program as a successful model for increasing zero-emission vehicle adoption and infrastructure.

The report identifies a significant global health and economic toll from red and processed meat consumption, which is linked to type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It highlights a 'treatment-over-prevention' trend in wealthy nations, particularly in Europe, where robust healthcare systems mitigate disease outcomes at a high financial cost. The authors argue that implementing fiscal policies and dietary interventions to reduce meat intake could save billions in healthcare spending and significantly reduce premature mortality and disability.

The report analyzes the impact of a massive fire at the Doral incinerator, which burned from February 12 to March 2, 2023. It finds that air quality frequently reached unhealthy or hazardous levels for particulate matter (PM2.5) and exceeded action levels for chlorine, VOCs, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide, contradicting early official claims. Water testing in onsite retention ponds showed exceedances of sanitary sewer and groundwater standards for copper, lead, zinc, sulfates, and boron. The document also details the emergency demolition of asbestos-containing structures and a history of five fires at the facility in recent years, using these findings to advocate for a transition to a Zero Waste system in Miami-Dade County.

The report finds that if all 177 States adopting California's standards implement the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, U.S. emissions could be reduced by 1,310 million metric tons of CO2e by 2050. This adoption would lead to three-quarters of U.S. cars being electric vehicles (EVs) by 2050, creating nearly 300,000 jobs and saving households an average of $238 annually. The analysis emphasizes that while the IRA provides near-term incentives, the ACC II mandate is necessary for long-term electrification goals. Case studies for Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York highlight significant state-level benefits, including substantial reductions in asthma attacks and premature deaths, particularly in communities of color.

The analysis finds that 236 counties in 21 US states face cancer risks exceeding the EPA's one-in-a-million threshold due to oil and gas pollution, affecting nearly 14 million people. The report identifies benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde as the primary drivers of this risk, accounting for 96% of the estimated cancer risk. It highlights that the population living in high-risk counties increased from 9 million in 2016 to 14 million in 2022, primarily due to industry growth. The report argues that implementing proven methane-reduction technologies, such as leak detection and repair and the replacement of gas-driven pneumatic equipment, would also significantly reduce toxic hazardous air pollution.

The adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rules in Oregon is projected to significantly reduce toxic air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicles. By 2050, these regulations are expected to reduce NOx emissions by nearly 90% and PM2.5 by over 80%, preventing approximately 156 premature deaths and 118 hospital visits. Economically, the shift is projected to generate $21.2 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by 2050, with electric truck operators seeing an estimated $60,000 in net lifetime savings per vehicle by 2040 due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.

The document details the impact of Washington adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which requires an increasing percentage of new medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle sales to be zero-emissions starting in 2024. It highlights that while M/HD vehicles make up only 10% of vehicles on Washington roads, they contribute disproportionately to pollution, including 30% of global warming emissions, 60% of NOx, and 50% of PM2.5 from on-road vehicles. The transition is projected to eliminate nearly 47 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050 and generate $24.9 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by the same year.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, flammable gas used primarily for sterilizing medical equipment and as a chemical building block. Classified as a carcinogen by the EPA and other bodies, chronic inhalation is linked to white blood cell cancers and breast cancer. The document highlights that EtO emissions disproportionately affect low-income communities and people of color, with some areas in Louisiana experiencing cancer risks over 200 times the EPA's acceptable levels. While the EPA has updated the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing (MON) rule, the document argues that current regulations fail to require fenceline monitoring or a complete phaseout of the chemical, calling for stronger enforcement and the adoption of less toxic alternatives.

The report analyzes the transition of Washington's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three scenarios: the ACT Rule, the ACT + NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The most aggressive scenario is projected to generate cumulative net societal benefits of over $42.8 billion by 2050, including significant reductions in premature deaths and greenhouse gas emissions. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis predicts lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to benefit electric utilities through increased revenue and potentially lower electricity rates for residential and commercial customers, while creating national job gains in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction.

The document highlights that older adults are disproportionately affected by extreme heat due to physiological vulnerabilities and social isolation. It argues that while air conditioning is critical, it can be inaccessible due to poverty or power failures, and its use contributes to further warming. The report emphasizes that social connection is a primary defense against heat deaths and details successful community interventions in cities like Philadelphia and Phoenix, while warning that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates risks by increasing isolation.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that accelerating the transition from coal to clean energy in Illinois would improve public health, lower electric bills, and spur local investment without significantly increasing costs for ratepayers.

The report argues that accelerating the retirement of coal plants in Illinois in favor of clean energy technologies will improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, and lower electricity bills without compromising grid reliability.

The report argues that accelerating the retirement of coal plants in Illinois, beyond the mandates of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), would significantly improve public health and provide economic gains. Modeling shows that replacing coal with wind, solar, and energy storage is affordable and does not compromise grid reliability, as demonstrated by a case study of the Waukegan plant. The analysis highlights that pollution-burdened communities of color and low-income residents stand to benefit most from this transition.

The document is a legal complaint alleging racial discrimination in the provision of public health services in Lowndes County, Alabama. It argues that ADPH and LCHD have failed to abate insanitary conditions caused by failing or non-existent sewage systems, which disproportionately affect black residents. The complaint specifically highlights the agencies' dismissal of a 2017 peer-reviewed study that found hookworm in 34.5% of participants, and the historical criminalization of poverty through arrests of black residents for lacking permitted septic systems.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a transportation-based cap-and-invest program for New York State, citing the success of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the power sector. The document highlights that transportation is the largest source of emissions in New York and a major cause of health issues in New York City. It suggests that such a program could raise over $1.2 billion annually to fund electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit, and climate resilience.

The report finds that 238 US counties in 21 states face cancer risks exceeding the EPA's 1-in-a-million threshold due to oil and gas emissions, affecting over 9 million people. Key pollutants identified include benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylbenzene, with the highest risks concentrated in states with significant infrastructure like Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The analysis highlights that NATA likely underestimates total health impacts by excluding particulate matter, ozone, and water contamination. To mitigate these risks, the report recommends implementing leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, replacing high-emitting pneumatic equipment, and installing vapor recovery units on storage tanks.

The document highlights the link between a warming climate and the increase in heavy precipitation events across the United States. It emphasizes that while flood impacts are typically measured by property damage and immediate loss of life, there are substantial 'hidden' public health costs. These include waterborne gastrointestinal illnesses from contaminated water, respiratory and neurological problems caused by indoor mold, and increased mental health struggles. The report identifies five specific hidden risks: drowning while driving, contaminated drinking water, sewage backup in homes, contamination of recreational waterways, and toxic indoor mold. It advocates for aggressive carbon emission reductions and the creation of more resilient communities to mitigate these risks.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges Congress to implement a multi-pollutant policy to address the public health and environmental crises caused by power plant emissions. CATF proposes capping sulfur dioxide at 2 million tons per year and nitrogen oxides at 1.6 million tons per year, while requiring a 95% reduction in mercury emissions. The document highlights that current regulations are insufficient to prevent 30,000 annual premature deaths or allow ecosystem recovery from acid rain. It further argues that these pollution controls are necessary prerequisites for the effective operation of carbon capture technologies and should be linked to any free carbon allowances provided under climate legislation like the Waxman-Markey bill.

The document argues that coal-fired power plants are the largest unregulated source of mercury in the U.S., contributing significantly to the contamination of fish in the Midwest. It details how mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains, posing severe risks to the central nervous system of fetuses and children, as well as harming wildlife like common loons and otters. The report highlights the economic threat to the regional fishing industry and advocates for stringent federal and state emission limits and better regulation of coal combustion waste.