Unequal State Air Pollution: Adopting and Adapting to State Clean Air Policy

Abstract

This dissertation looks at the relationship between American subnational governments and clean air policy in three different cases. I investigate the impact of state reduction policies on the emission of Greenhouse emissions, the subnational adoption of Greenhouse Gas tracking and reduction policies, and the impact of Clean Air Act standards on the siting of coal-fired power plants. The major finding is that in both the adoption and business response to these policies, a state’s political context can limit its ability to regulate air pollution. These factors contribute to the unequal protection of air quality across the United States.