America's Air Pollution: Strategies And Solutions

Despite improvements in air quality over the past decades, air pollution remains a pressing issue in the United States, with nearly half of Americans (approximately 156 million people) still breathing unhealthy air. To address this, America has implemented various measures to curb air pollution and improve air quality. One of the most notable efforts is the Clean Air Act, enacted in 1970, which has played a crucial role in reducing pollution from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing. The Act has set emissions standards for various sources, such as vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, construction equipment, and power plants, leading to significant improvements in air quality. In addition, the Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards require power plants to reduce emissions of toxic pollutants. Other initiatives include state-of-the-art emission control technologies for new cars, trucks, and non-road engines, as well as modern pollution control technology for new plants and factories.

The Clean Air Act

The Act was initially enacted in 1963 and has been amended many times since. The 1977 CAA Amendments, for example, required the EPA to conduct a "new source review" process to determine whether maintenance and other activities rise to the level of modification requiring the application of NSPS. The 1990 Amendments, meanwhile, created a new title to address acid rain, particularly nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants and other industrial sources.

Despite the Clean Air Act's successes, challenges remain. The State of the Air 2025 report finds that 46% of Americans (156.1 million people) live in areas with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Climate change, including extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, is making it harder to maintain air quality improvements.

Clean Power Plan

On August 3, 2015, President Obama and the EPA announced the Clean Power Plan, a historic policy aimed at combating climate change. The plan was designed to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, which are the largest source of such pollution in the country. The Clean Power Plan was the result of unprecedented outreach to states, tribes, utilities, stakeholders, and the public, with each state assigned a target for reducing carbon emissions.

The plan set flexible and achievable standards, giving states the opportunity to design their own path toward cleaner energy sources. This included focusing on three building blocks: increasing the generation efficiency of existing fossil fuel plants, substituting natural gas generation for coal-powered generation, and substituting generation from renewable sources for fossil fuel-powered generation. The EPA also provided a Federal Plan and model rule to assist states in implementing the Clean Power Plan.

The Clean Power Plan was projected to have significant benefits for public health and the environment. The EPA estimated that the plan would reduce pollutants that contribute to smog and soot by 25%, leading to 140,000-150,000 fewer asthma attacks among children and 2,700-6,600 fewer premature deaths. The average American family was also expected to save $85 per year in energy bills by 2030.

In March 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that the EPA review the Clean Power Plan. On June 19, 2019, the EPA issued the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which replaced the Clean Power Plan. However, on January 19, 2021, the D.C. Circuit vacated the Affordable Clean Energy rule, creating an opportunity for the Biden administration to improve and clarify the rules. In 2022, the Biden Administration issued the "Clean Power Plan 2.0", a suite of rules aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from electrical power generation.

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

The United States has taken several measures to curb air pollution. The Clean Air Act, for instance, has been successful in cutting down pollution over the last 45 years. The Act has helped reduce outdoor air pollution, with new cars, trucks, and non-road engines now using state-of-the-art emission control technologies. The Act has also led to the installation of modern pollution control technology in new plants and factories.

The EPA has also played a crucial role in protecting people's health from air pollution. However, its work is currently threatened by significant staffing and funding cuts.

Another measure taken by the US to curb air pollution is the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). MATS, established in 2012, require power plants to reduce their emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants. The pollutants reduced under MATS are associated with harming the developing nervous systems of unborn babies and children, causing cancer, and contributing to asthma and other respiratory diseases.

The compliance date for MATS was in 2015, and power plants took steps such as installing controls or updating operations to meet these standards. The technologies used to reduce toxic pollution under MATS also help reduce sulfur dioxide and fine particle pollution, providing additional benefits for public health. MATS is estimated to prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, and 130,000 asthma attacks annually, starting in 2016.

In 2024, the EPA strengthened and updated the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), which are commonly known as MATS. The updated standards further limit the emission of non-mercury HAP metals from existing coal-fired power plants and tighten the emission standards for mercury for existing lignite-fired power plants.

Reducing vehicle emissions

The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, gave the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate pollution from cars and other forms of transportation. Since then, the EPA has set and implemented emissions standards to control pollution from passenger vehicles, heavy-duty trucks and buses, construction and farm equipment, marine engines, and even lawn and garden equipment.

The EPA has also set carbon emissions standards for passenger cars and trucks, and is working to develop standards for aircraft. The auto industry has responded by developing new emission control technologies, and new passenger vehicles are now 98-99% cleaner for most tailpipe pollutants compared to those in the 1960s.

Despite these successes, many places in the United States still have poor local air quality, and the transportation sector remains a large contributor to the country's emissions. Heavy-duty vehicles, including lorries, buses, and coaches, make up only a small fraction of on-road vehicles in the US but generate 59% of ozone- and particle-forming nitrogen oxide emissions and 55% of particle pollution.

To address this, the EPA is supporting the adoption of heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles through various federal programs and funding opportunities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocates billions of dollars to HDV infrastructure, including $7.5 billion for building out zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure, $2.5 billion for the National Alternative Fuel Corridors Program, and $50 million to reduce truck emissions at port facilities.

The EPA also provides resources to help consumers make more environmentally informed choices when purchasing a vehicle. The Green Vehicle Guide lists pollution levels for all recent model-year passenger vehicles sold in the US, allowing consumers to compare different vehicle models and find the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly option for their needs.

Public education and guidance

The United States has made significant progress in addressing air pollution, and public education and guidance have played a crucial role in this effort. Various organizations, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the American Lung Association, have actively engaged in educating the public and providing guidance to reduce air pollution.

The EPA, for example, has set and implemented emissions standards for various sources, including vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, buses, construction equipment, and lawn care equipment. They have also developed standards for carbon emissions from passenger cars, trucks, and on-road heavy-duty vehicles, working towards developing standards for aircraft as well. The EPA's Clean Air Act, enacted in 1970, has been instrumental in cutting pollution while allowing for economic growth. The Act has resulted in improved air quality, reduced environmental damage, and lowered health risks for Americans.

The MPCA, on the other hand, focuses on providing education, guidance, and incentives for reducing air pollution. They offer programs for various sectors, including businesses, cities, nonprofits, and communities, to address environmental problems, particularly air quality. The MPCA encourages individuals to reduce vehicle usage, recommending carpooling, biking, busing, or telecommuting as alternatives. They also suggest keeping vehicles well-maintained and fixing exhaust problems promptly. Additionally, the MPCA advises limiting backyard fires in urban areas due to their impact on people with asthma and other lung conditions.

The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report has been instrumental in reflecting the successes and challenges of air quality in the United States. The report has highlighted the disproportionate impact of air pollution on communities of color, with nearly half of the U.S. population, approximately 156 million people, living with unhealthy levels of air pollution. This has prompted efforts to strengthen pollution rules and push for tighter regulations.

Overall, public education and guidance have been essential in America's efforts to curb air pollution. By providing information, recommendations, and incentives, organizations like the EPA, MPCA, and American Lung Association are empowering individuals, communities, and businesses to make informed choices and take action to improve air quality and protect public health.

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