Impacts of wind power on air quality, premature mortality, and exposure disparities in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Understanding impacts of renewable energy on air quality and associated human exposures is essential for informing future policy. We estimate the impacts of U.S. wind power on air quality and pollution exposure disparities using hourly data from 2011 to 2017 and detailed atmospheric chemistry modeling. Wind power associated with renewable portfolio standards in 2014 resulted in $2.0 billion in health benefits from improved air quality. A total of 29% and 32% of these health benefits accrued to racial/ethnic minority and low-income populations respectively, below a 2021 target by the Biden administration that 40% of the overall benefits of future federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Wind power worsened exposure disparities among racial and income groups in some states but

SUBMITTER: Qiu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10936048 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature