New Interactive Map Shows Nationwide Pollution from Gas Turbines

(Washington, D.C. – January 15, 2025) Environmental Defense Fund, Moms Clean Air Force and EcoMadres today unveiled a new website and interactive map that illustrates unhealthy air pollution from the gas-fired combustion turbines at power plants and industrial facilities all across the country. 

The website, Clearing the Air, has information about gas turbines – how they work, the types of pollution they emit and the dangers of that pollution, and opportunities to protect people – including new standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering now. The interactive map on the right-hand side of the page has data on the location and pollution levels of gas turbines across the country by state and by Congressional district.

“Pollution from gas turbines puts people’s lives and health at risk, but we have readily available, commonsense pollution controls that can help reduce that pollution.” said Noha Haggag, EDF Senior Attorney for Clean Power. “We designed this website and interactive map to help people get information about gas turbines, especially the ones near where they live, and about steps we can take to make sure we all have cleaner, safer air.”

Combustion turbines are engines that burn fuel to produce electricity or mechanical power at power plants and industrial facilities. Gas turbines burn natural gas and create several dangerous types of pollution, including Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) that cause smog and soot, climate change-causing greenhouse gas pollution, and hazardous air pollutants that have been linked to cancer. 

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set strong, protective standards that limits dangerous pollution from sources including gas turbines. States can also set even stronger standards to protect people’s health. 

“In this time of escalating threats to children’s health, it’s more important than ever to understand the burden of air pollution on little lungs — and what we can do to ease that burden so that children can breathe clean air,” says Moms Clean Air Force’s Public Health Manager Elizabeth Bechard. “Gas-fired power plants emit a range of pollutants that threaten babies’ and children’s developing bodies. Having data that shows the pollution burden communities are facing is a critical step in holding power companies accountable for their emissions, and in illuminating the stark racial and socioeconomic disparities that exist when it comes to power plant pollution.”

EPA recently issued a proposal to reduce one type of pollution from new gas turbines – NOx, which causes the smog and soot that in turn causes heart and lung diseases, strokes, and asthma attacks. EPA last updated these standards in 2006. Since then new, and now commonly available, technology makes it possible for gas turbines to produce power while emitting 87% less pollution than the standards require. EPA is considering public comments about these standards through March and must finalize them by this November.

EPA has already set standards for climate pollution from new gas turbines, but there are currently no such standards for existing gas turbines. EPA has not updated the hazardous air pollution standards for gas turbines since 2004.

The new interactive map allows people to find out about gas turbines near their own homes. It shows that Texas and Florida have the highest levels of all types of pollution from gas turbines. Michigan came in third for NOx pollution from gas turbines and Pennsylvania was third for climate pollution. The map also allows you to search for gas turbine pollution levels by Congressional district. 

Find more on the website – Clearing the Air.