Estimated Pollution Reduction from Wind Farms in Oklahoma and Associated Economic and Human Health Benefits

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been a recognition of the growing need for different forms of energy outside of fossil fuels. Since the latter half of the twentieth century individuals, corporations, and governments have become increasingly aware of the effects of the emissions of carbon and other harmful pollutants on the environment. With this greater concern has come increasing activity to combat these harmful emissions by using alternative fuel sources to power homes, businesses, and cities. As can be seen from recent trends in their installed capacity, it is clear that renewable energy resources will continue to be more commonly used in the future. As renewable energy increases, a decrease in a range of harmful pollutants from the energy sector will also occur. This paper provides a case study to estimate the potential environmental and health benefits of an increased shift from fossil fuels to renewable fuels for electrical production in Oklahoma. Results illustrate and quantify the specific reduction that wind energy can and will have on air quality, as well as provide a quantification of the associated potential health benefits.

A bibliometric analysis on renewable energy's public health benefits

“…Renewable energy sources, which are crucial to environmental problem mitigation, notably air pollution-related health issues, can reduce pollutants and thereby improve air quality and human health [95]. With the transition to RE, millions of tons of toxic gases are stopped from being discharged, and deaths, non-fatal heart attacks, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other hospital admissionrelated disorders can be prevented [96]. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases can provide ancillary benefits and slow climate change through the improved air quality [97].…”

Health Benefits from Renewable Electricity Sources: A Review

“…Historic analysis [37] Estimation of the health co-benefits from wind power growth in Oklahoma from 2003 to 2011 [26] Overview of the growth in Spain of RESs, from 2005 to 2010, and estimations of the corresponding health co-benefits [22] Estimation of the health co-benefits of implementing renewable portfolio standards in the US from 2010 to 2013 [42] Estimation of the health co-benefits of wind and solar power growth in the US from 2007 to 2015 [44] Estimation of the health co-benefits if investing in RESs for a set of renewable electricity companies [24] Estimation of the health co-benefits due to the operation of Independent System Photovoltaic Operators at over 10,000 locations in the US from 2010 to 2017 [27] LCA/Scenario comparison Estimation of the health co-benefits of implementing renewable portfolio standards in the US in 2013…”

“…Health co-benefits per year [37] $5.25 Million [25] ($0.95; $230.53) Million [26] €135.56 Million [38] $103 Billion [31] €6142.45 Million [39] ($37; $210) Million [40] $1.1 Billion [27] ($2.6; $9.9) Billion [29] ($1.41; $7.35) Billion [32] ($1.37; $26.2) Billion [41] ($0.16; $13.49) Billion [42] $13.1 Billion [30] ($4.7; $21) Billion [45] $616 Billion [34] ($26,78; $222.84) Billion [46] (€235,000; €550,000) [47] $2.6 Trillion [48] $3.8 Billion Note: Billion indicates ten raised to the 9th and trillion indicates ten raised to the 12th.…”

The importance of the Central Asian region in energy security at the global level: A review

“…Moreover, wind can be an efficient power generation source and has a wide potential to fulfill the world's energy needs. Wind is renewable, clean, and highly conducive to environmental protection, as it does not produce toxic gases during power generation and requires a little land area (Greene & Morrissey, 2013).…”