GAUGING RUST BELT CULPABILITY IN THE CROSS-STATE AIR POLLUTION RULE USING DATA RELATED TO PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Abstract

The Rust Belt geographic region of the United States was formerly an economic juggernaut because of its manufacturing prowess. However, in recent decades, the Rust Belt has struggled to shift to national trends of cleaner energy. The federal Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was implemented by downwind political actors in the Northeast region of the United States because of the air pollution that travels there from Rust Belt power plants. Complicating matters is new research pointing to long-term exposure to air pollution as a pre-existing condition for COVID-19 complications. To explore the merits of the downwinders’ complaints, this study will analyze trends in the manufacturing process as it relates to pollution efficiencies amongst Rust Belt producers.