Morning Haze At Coal-Fired Power Plant

New Roads, Louisiana, USA

This plant converted one of its units to natural gas combustion in 2016 which reduced its particulate emissions significantly. Still it emits over 311,000 pounds of toxics into the air, including mercury, lead, and dioxin.

Studies in the EU show that aiir pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is the leading cause of premature death. Research continues to expose unexpected links between air pollution and disease, such as dementia, kidney disease, and diabetes.

The conversion to natural gas is a trend encouraged by the drop in gas price in the USA from the hydro-fracking boom. Studies have shown, though, that the methane released in the fracking process produces as much greenhouse gas over a 10 year period as coal.