The impact of three recent coal-fired power plant closings on Pittsburgh air quality: A natural experiment

Abstract

With many coal-fired power plants scheduled to close across the United States in the coming years, there is interest in the potential impact on regional PM_2.5 concentrations. In southwestern Pennsylvania, recent coal-fired power plant closings were coupled with a boom in unconventional natural gas extraction. Natural gas is currently seen as an economically viable bridge fuel between coal and renewable energy. This study provides policymakers with more information on the potential ambient concentration changes associated with coal-fired power plant closings as the nation's energy reliance shifts toward natural gas.