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This report analyzes the health impacts of various US power plant emission reduction policies, comparing the Clear Skies Act (CSA) with the Carper Bill, Jeffords Bill, and an EPA Straw Proposal. Using the REMSAD air quality model and BenMAP health analysis tool, the study quantifies avoidable cases of premature mortality, chronic bronchitis, heart attacks, and respiratory/cardiovascular hospitalizations. The findings indicate that the Jeffords Bill provides the highest health benefits in both 2010 and 2020, while the CSA provides the lowest among the policy options. The report also includes a 'No EGU' scenario to establish the total health footprint of coal-fired electricity generating units.

The document details a 'Smart' Automation System implemented by BP on over 2,200 gas wells in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. The system uses remote measurement units and artificial intelligence to monitor well parameters—such as casing and tubing pressure and flow rates—to optimize liquid removal and reduce the need for venting gas to the atmosphere. This implementation resulted in a reduction of methane emissions by 2.3 billion cubic feet annually, generating an estimated $6.9 million in additional annual income based on a gas value of $3 per thousand cubic feet. The system is applicable to gas wells that produce associated liquids and are subject to loading, with installation costs estimated at less than $12,000 per well and a typical return on investment within 1 to 3 years.

The Clean Air Task Force argues that the EPA's 2004 decision regarding cooling water intake structures for existing power plants is too weak because it replaces technology mandates with vague performance standards and allows for fish population 'restoration' instead of preventing kills. The document highlights that once-through cooling systems, used by 52% of U.S. plants, cause massive fish mortality and thermal pollution, whereas recirculating cooling could reduce water use by 95%.

The report details how U.S. power plants impact water resources through massive withdrawals and the discharge of heated, chemically treated water. It highlights the ecological damage caused by once-through cooling systems—such as fish impingement and entrainment—and the risks of toxic chemical leaks from coal ash ponds. The document argues for a transition to closed-cycle and dry-cooling technologies to mitigate these effects and ensure power system reliability during droughts. It also critiques the current state-led enforcement of the Clean Water Act, calling for more consistent federal standards and cumulative impact assessments.

The document describes the installation of pumpjacks (positive displacement, sucker-rod downhole pumps) on low-pressure gas wells that suffer from liquid loading. By removing produced water, pumpjacks eliminate the need for operators to manually vent gas and water into the atmosphere, which can otherwise take up to one hour per well daily. One partner reported that installing pumpjacks on 45 wells reduced methane emissions by 43,780 thousand cubic feet annually, or 973 thousand cubic feet per well per year. Economically, this reduction in emissions represents an additional annual revenue of $2,900 per well, based on a nominal value of $3 per thousand cubic feet of gas. While the payback period is estimated at 15 to 22 years with installation costs around $62,000 per well, the practice is justified by extended well life and increased gas recovery. Additionally, using electric motors instead of natural gas engines for pumpjacks can further reduce methane emissions by approximately 8 thousand cubic feet per unit annually, as it eliminates the 0.5% unburnt methane typically associated with fuel consumption of 1,500 thousand cubic feet per year.

The document describes the installation of pumpjacks (rod-driven positive displacement pumps) to extract formation water from low-pressure gas wells that would otherwise require atmospheric venting to restore flow. One participant, ConocoPhillips, reported that installing pumpjacks on 45 wells eliminated venting emissions totaling 43,780 Mcf per year, or 973 Mcf per well annually. While the investment recovery period is estimated at 15 to 22 years with installation costs around $62,000 per well, the practice is justified by increased gas reserves, extended well life, and additional revenue of $2,900 per well annually. The document also notes that using electric motors instead of natural gas engines can further reduce emissions by approximately 1,500 Mcf of fuel per unit per year.

The document criticizes the EPA's 2002 implementation proposal for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, claiming it unlawfully attempts to shift nonattainment areas from the more protective Subpart 2 requirements to the weaker Subpart 1. It further warns that the EPA's plan to revoke the 1-hour ozone standard would allow areas to abandon critical control measures, such as transportation conformity and maintenance plans, thereby endangering vulnerable populations—particularly children and the elderly—who are susceptible to ozone-linked respiratory issues and asthma.

The document outlines EPA's proposed options for implementing the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), focusing on the legal tension between Subpart 1 and Subpart 2 of Part D of the Clean Air Act. The EPA's preferred approach seeks to maximize flexibility for states by applying the more stringent Subpart 2 requirements only to areas failing both the 1-hour and 8-hour standards, while placing 'gap' areas under the more lenient Subpart 1. The proposal includes options for nonattainment area classifications, attainment deadlines, the revocation of the 1-hour standard, and new source review (NSR) flexibilities, including a 'Clean Air Development Community' concept.

The report examines the significant water demands of fossil fuel power plants in the Interior West, highlighting the environmental risks of cooling systems and the potential for water savings through dry cooling, energy efficiency, and renewables.

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.

The report details the impact of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from coal-fired power plants in six Midwest states, highlighting that these plants account for 30 percent of total annual regional emissions. It argues that current EPA regulations, such as the summertime-only SIP call, are insufficient because they ignore wintertime pollution and exclude certain states. The document links NOx to ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, premature deaths, and crop yield losses. Environmental impacts include acid rain, loss of species diversity, and the Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone'. The author advocates for mandatory year-round modern emission controls, such as Selective Catalytic Removal (SCR), for all 'grandfathered' plants.

The report details how African Americans are disproportionately exposed to power plant emissions due to residential concentration in urban centers and proximity to facilities. It links these emissions to higher rates of asthma, infant mortality, and mercury exposure, while highlighting the compounding effects of poverty and lack of healthcare. The authors advocate for new legislation to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide, and specifically call for the elimination of the 'grandfather' exemption in the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program.

The report argues that the health benefits of enforcing New Source Review (NSR) on 51 violating power plants significantly outweigh the costs of installing Best Available Control Technology (BACT). Using EPA-approved methodologies, the analysis estimates that cleaning up these plants would avoid thousands of premature deaths and tens of thousands of asthma attacks annually, with benefits valued at $24-38 billion against an annual cost of approximately $3.6 billion.

The report details how power plant emissions—including particulate matter, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and mercury—disproportionately harm children due to their developing physiology and higher activity levels. It links these pollutants to asthma, stunted lung growth, neurological deficits, and infant mortality, while advocating for nationwide emission caps and a transition to cleaner energy.

The report details a Harvard School of Public Health study on five power plants (Benning, Chalk Point, Dickerson, Possum Point, and Potomac River) near Washington DC. It finds that these plants are linked to over 250 annual deaths and thousands of respiratory and cardiovascular incidents. The analysis highlights that disadvantaged groups—including those with lower education, African-American children, and elderly diabetics—suffer a disproportionate share of these health impacts. The report argues that implementing readily available pollution control equipment could avoid approximately 75% of these deaths and illnesses.

The document asserts that human use of fossil fuels has disrupted the Earth's climate balance, leading to a one degree Fahrenheit increase in global mean temperature over the last century. While some regions like the Midwest might see initial benefits such as increased crop yields, the text warns that failure to reduce emissions could lead to temperature increases of 5 to 10 °F, resulting in severe consequences for the U.S. and dire outcomes for poor developing countries.

The report highlights that six Midwest states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) are home to 140 power plants that release approximately 2% of global man-made CO2 and 25% of all US power plant CO2. It predicts that without aggressive emissions reductions, the region could see temperature increases of 5-10°F in the 21st century, leading to significant risks for the Great Lakes water levels, crop yields, and human health. The document advocates for cleaning up old coal plants, transitioning to renewable energy, and increasing individual energy efficiency to mitigate these risks.

The Clean Air Task Force argues that the National Coal Council's claim that 40,000 MW of capacity could be recovered from old coal plants by relaxing New Source Review (NSR) rules is flawed. The report asserts that a boom in new natural gas generation—estimated at 260,000 MW likely to come online by 2005—negates the need for such recovery. It further claims that recovering capacity from old plants would be expensive and difficult, as most deratings occur in small increments across 1,200 units. Finally, it argues that NSR enforcement provides far greater emission reductions than the efficiency (heat rate) improvements proposed by the industry.

The report asserts that while the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and Canadian programs reduced sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, acid rain remains a major problem due to the cumulative acid burden from 150 years of industrial activity. It highlights ongoing threats to salmon in Nova Scotia, lakes in Canada, and aquatic life in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The document concludes that emissions cuts of up to 80 percent beyond the 1990 amendments are necessary for biological recovery to begin by mid-century, which can be achieved through energy efficiency, renewables, cleaner fuels, and pollution control.

The report asserts that while the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments reduced sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, ecosystems in North America remain damaged due to a 150-year accumulation of acidic compounds. It documents ongoing damage to aquatic life, forests, and wildlife, and argues that biological recovery requires emission cuts up to 80 percent beyond the 1990 mandates. The authors state that affordable technologies, such as scrubbers and renewable energy, are available to achieve these deeper reductions.