%0 Report
        %A Johnsen, Reid
%A LaRiviere, Jacob
%A Wolff, Hendrik
        %T Estimating Indirect Benefits: Fracking, Coal and Air Pollution
        %D 2016
        %8 2016 Aug
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 10170
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp10170
        %X This paper estimates indirect benefits of improved air quality induced by hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking". The recent increase in natural gas supply led to displacement of coal-fired electricity by cleaner natural gas-fired generation. Using detailed spatial panel data comprising the near universe of US power plants, we find that coal generation decreased by 28%. Further, fracking decreased local air pollution by an average of 4%. We show that benefits vary geographically; air pollution levels decreased by 35% in the most affected region. Back of the envelope calculations imply accumulated health benefits of roughly $17 billion annually.
        %K fracking
%K coal-fired power plants
%K air pollution
%K health
%K electricity