UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The latest episode of the Growing Impact podcast features Emily Pakhtigian, assistant professor of public policy and the Jeffrey L. and Sharon D. Hyde-McCourtney Career Development Professor. On the podcast, she discusses her seed grant project through which she and her colleagues are investigating how the transition away from coal-fired power plants is impacting the environment and health of the surrounding communities in Pennsylvania.

According to Pakhtigian, coal-fired power plants are an important source of electricity generation in Pennsylvania but one that is starting to be transitioned out.

“In Pennsylvania, we’ve seen reductions in electricity generation from these plants, from about 50% of all electricity to about 17% in 2019,” she said. “This suggests that there has been a large drawdown of coal operations in Pennsylvania, and this is the specific transition we are interested in studying.”

Pakhtigian and her team are interested in understanding the steps in the energy generation process and their implications. This includes the coal-fired power plant operations and how that impacts environmental quality and what that means for health or other economic impacts.

Another facet of the project is focused on environmental justice and understanding how communities with low-income or minority populations are often impacted disproportionately by coal-fired power plants. Additionally, Pakhtigian and her team are exploring how policy can assist in energy transitions that are more just.

Growing Impact is a podcast by the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE). It features Penn State researchers who have been awarded IEE seed grants and discusses their foundational work as they further their projects. The podcast is available on multiple platforms, including Apple, Google, Amazon and Spotify.