The recent federal air pollution rule has successfully resulted in an 18 percent reduction of smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions in 10 states during the summer. This reduction resulted from the implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Good Neighbor” rule. The agency’s rule specifically targeted coal-fired power plants in states such as Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which significantly decreased the impact of nitrogen oxide emissions on neighboring states’ ozone pollution.
In a press release, Joseph Goffman, principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, stated, “This early data shows that the Good Neighbor plan is a workable and effective rule.”
However, while the rule initially aimed at 23 states, only 10 have implemented it due to ongoing legal challenges. States like Alabama, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas, and Utah have yet to adopt the rule, resulting in delayed relief for communities impacted by ozone pollution.
Under the Good Neighbor rule, power plants and heavy industries are required to install and use pollution-control equipment to reduce their nitrogen oxide emissions. The reduction of nitrogen oxide is essential as it plays a significant role in the formation of smog and poses health risks such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
The EPA’s recent findings underscore the tangible public health benefits that noncompliant states are missing out on. The delay in addressing ozone pollution disproportionately impacts communities living near industrial facilities, which often comprise communities of color and low-income groups. As the legal battles continue, the negative impacts on public health persist.
