EWG analysis of air emissions data from EPA and the states reveals that exactly the opposite is true. Rational strategies to control particulate pollution will focus on these sources first. More to the point, major particulate polluters are extraordinarily profitable and can easily afford pollution controls needed to clean the air. The affordability of pollution control measures is not the real issue for these polluters. Thousands of lives stand in the balance.
Electric utilities are the main source of fine particulate pollution.
They are also highly profitable and generate huge revenue streams each year. Assuming that this subset of utilities shoulders all of the costs of compliance with the new health standard, the annual gross revenues of the top polluting utilities is still 26 times more than the yearly costs of meeting the new particulate standard. Congress Caves to Big Polluters Particulate Pollution Top Polluting Facilities, States, and Parent Corporations Costs Overstated, Benefits Understated Recommendations Download PDF Version of Smokestacks and Smoke Screens.