Dialing Down Fossil Fuels Could Quadruple the Health Benefits of Wind Energy
We all know that renewable energy is good for the planet, but did you know it could also be good for your health? According to a new study from MIT, the health benefits of using wind energy instead of fossil fuels could quadruple if we prioritize reducing emissions from the dirtiest power plants. That’s right, just by dialing down the most polluting plants, we could see a significant increase in the benefits of wind energy for air quality and human health.
So how did the researchers come to this conclusion? They analyzed the hourly activity of wind turbines and the reported emissions from every fossil-fuel-based power plant in the United States. They traced these emissions to affected demographic populations and calculated the regional air quality and associated health costs for each community. In 2014, they found that wind power improved overall air quality, but only about 30% of those health benefits reached poor communities. However, if the industry focused on reducing output from the most polluting plants instead of the most cost-saving ones during times of wind-generated power, the overall health benefits could quadruple to a whopping $8.4 billion nationwide.
But here’s the catch: while prioritizing health is a great way to maximize benefits across the U.S., it doesn’t address disparities. In order to truly tackle air pollution disparities, we need to look at other sources of air pollution and the underlying systemic factors that contribute to where power plants are located and where people live.
So next time you hear someone talking about the benefits of renewable energy, don’t just think about the planet. Think about your own health and the health of your community, because by transitioning to renewables like wind energy, we can all breathe a little easier.
