44 | September 2021
EPA Mapping Tool: Power Plants
and Neighboring Communities
By Marcia G. Yerman
T
he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently
released a new mapping tool that focuses on "Power
Plants and Neighboring Communities" as the jump-off
point to examine where sources of emissions are lo-
cated. The tool is available online (no mobile version yet). It has
the same data as the previous tool that I wrote about six years
ago and thought it was amazing then. However, the latest itera-
tion explicitly facilitates layers of information via a series of filters.
The United States map includes any grid-connected generator and
burns combustible fuel, including hospitals and college campuses.
There are 3,477 power plants in the United States. Of those, 299
are coal plants, and 1,736 are gas.
EPA administrator Michael Regan stated: "We know air pollution
affects some people worse than others. Achieving environmental
justice starts with improving our understanding of the impacts of air
pollution, especially in overburdened and historically underserved
communities. This web resource equips users with actionable, sci-
ence-based data on air quality in communities near power plants,
many of whom are suffering the worst from pollution."
The tool will be a key to unlocking information for those who
track emissions. It can lessen the obstacles to information essen-
tial for stakeholders.
The landing page has tutorial guidance via a "Quick Start
Guide." After investigating the maps on my own, I connected with
a spokesperson from the EPA who gave me a walk-through.
I had already done location searches against six spotlighted
categories:
• Communities of Color
• Low-Income Status
• Level of Education
• Language Accessibility
• Children under five years of age
• People over 64 years of age
Each plant's demographic data is represented by a cir-
cle and includes a 3-mile radius. The Legend (to the right)
shows the Demographic Index, which combines an average
of the two communities, people of color and low income.
Red (95-100 percent), orange (90-94 percent), and yellow
