Environmental Integrity Project
[From Press Release] Up to 5,700 deaths a year can be attributed to 51 of the dirtiest coal fired power plants in the United States with no announced plans for sulfur dioxide (SO2) clean-up measures, according to a new report from the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). Even using the most conservative estimate, the estimated cost to society of the premature deaths caused by 18 of the power plants actually exceeded the retail value of the electricity generated by each facility in 2011. ..
Key findings include:
- The 51 plants contributed to between 2,700 and 5,700 premature deaths in 2011 alone.
- Estimated pollution-related premature deaths were highest at the following plants: Labadie, MO (140 to 290); Eastlake, OH (120 to 240); Yates, GA (110 to 220); Martin Lake, TX (100 to 220); and Mill Creek, KY (100 to 210).
- Applying the same standard statistical value for human life used by EPA, the 2,700-5,700 premature deaths identified in the report are linked to social costs of $23 to $47 billion.
- Using the most conservative benchmark in the study, 18 of the 51 plants in this survey contribute to premature deaths that cost society more than the estimated retail value of the electricity they generated in 2011. When using the upper bound to estimate premature deaths, an additional 20 plants had social costs exceeding the estimated retail value of their electricity in 2011.
