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Good News—and Bad—about Fossil Fuel Power Plants in 2023 

Union of Concerned Scientists

And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. NO x also contributes to the formation of ozone (or “smog”), another toxic pollutant. A bit more on those reasons later. A recent study found that more than 99 percent of the global population is exposed to unsafe levels of PM 2.5

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The State of the Air in 2024? Not Great

Union of Concerned Scientists

The air quality for this report was calculated using data reviewed by EPA from 2020, 2021, and 2022. That means it includes the extreme wildfires exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry that burned more than 4% of California in 2021 and 2022. come from burning fossil fuels and pesticide use, and ultrafine particles (PM0.1)

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The CO2 problem in six easy steps (2022 Update)

Real Climate

For some parts of the spectrum, the IR can be either absorbed by CO 2 or by water vapour or by clouds, but taking those overlaps into account we find that 50% of the greenhouse effect is from water vapour, 25% from clouds, and about 20% from CO 2 and the rest absorbed by ozone, aerosols, and other trace gases ( Schmidt et al, 2010 ).

Radiation 309
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Improving EPA’s Latest Ozone Transport Rule

Acoel

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Eugene M. EPA’s latest proposed rule targeting NOx emissions from fossil-fueled electric generating units (EGUs) is a classic study of diminishing returns. The agency’s air quality modeling indicates that most areas would receive an ozone reduction of less than 0.1 ppb by 2025.

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Clean Fleets Rule Slated to Deliver Healthier Air for Californians

Union of Concerned Scientists

In the coming years, Californians will begin to see a massive switch away from highly polluting fossil-fueled trucks to zero-emission electric trucks. Additionally, the rule phases out the sale of fossil-fueled trucks in 2036. The rule will apply to commercial, federal, state, municipal, and drayage fleets.

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Disinformation Alert: Fossil Fuel Interests Preparing to Deploy False Claims about New EPA Rules

Union of Concerned Scientists

Fossil fuel power plant owners are facing increased accountability for their air and water pollution, including from a new round of environmental and public health protections that are being rolled out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We’ve heard these lazily disingenuous narratives before.

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EPA’s Power Plant Carbon Rules Are Critical—and Complex. Here’s What to Know, and What to Watch.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Through the Clean Air Act , and as affirmed—and reaffirmed—through multiple legal sagas, EPA is statutorily obligated to address carbon pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. The Supreme Court clipped the agency’s wings in its 2022 West Virginia v. In June 2022, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in West Virginia v.