Environmental Justice
What's it all about? PJM has consistently overestimated peak demand and overpaid on capacity payments, which keeps polluting power plants online despite being uneconomic and unnecessary to provide reliable electric service. PJM should listen to the voices and concerns of communities near these power plants when making decisions. Rather than keeping dirty plants running, PJM should allow them to close and focus on connecting new clean energy to the grid.
Why should consumers care? An Applied Economics Clinic study found that 54 percent of PJM power plants are located within 1 mile of an environmental justice (EJ) community–a community that is disproportionately plagued by significant environmental problems and a lack of investment. Solar and wind projects are not only better for the environment, but also provide a cheaper and healthier alternative to the fossil fuels that threaten the health of all consumers–especially people living in communities near power plants.
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