Experts Describe Health Benefits of Reduced TVA Emissions

There is a new development in North Carolina's lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority. The Raleigh News and Observer reports that experts weighing in on North Carolina's behalf have quantified the effects of TVA's pollution into real numbers. The numbers are presented as to illustrate the benefits from reduced pollution for areas affected by TVA's power plants.

People in the East and Midwest would suffer about 1,400 fewer premature deaths a year, environmental health experts say, while North Carolina children would miss 2,300 fewer school days annually. And the views in the Great Smoky Mountains would increase from 15 miles to 26 miles on the smoggiest days, says another.

These numbers illustrate the importance of this upcoming lawsuit for both future environmental law in the South and the huge impact of TVA pollution on the region.

Residents of North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee would gain the most health benefits from cuts in pollution, said the experts in power plant emissions, air modeling and environmental health.