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Exploring Environmental Inequality Within US Communities Containing Coal and Nuclear Power Plants

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Abstract

This chapter seeks to unveil how the siting of nuclear power plants differs from the siting of coal-fired power plants in the USA. More specifically, it addresses how the demographics of surrounding communities differ according to the type of facility, and explores the possible causes of these discrepancies. Utilizing the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), the locations of all coal and nuclear powered plants in the country were identified. Census tracts were categorized as non-host, coal host, nuclear host, or both host tracts. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare 2010 demographic census data among the different tract types. Discussion draws from environmental justice, green criminology, and risk perception literature to address the socio-structural implications of disparate demographics hosting coal- and nuclear-powered plants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

    Ms Sarah Kosmicki

  2. Department of Social Sciences & Languages, Northumbria University, Lipman Building, NE1 8ST, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Dr. Michael A. Long

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  1. Ms Sarah Kosmicki
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  2. Dr. Michael A. Long
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Correspondence to Michael A. Long .

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  1. Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom

    Tanya Wyatt

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Kosmicki, S., Long, M. (2016). Exploring Environmental Inequality Within US Communities Containing Coal and Nuclear Power Plants. In: Wyatt, T. (eds) Hazardous Waste and Pollution. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18081-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18081-6_6

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18080-9

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