US environmental regulators update how they measure air pollution from new factories

US environmental regulators have updated the computer models used to predict air pollution from new industrial facilities. This means companies building or expanding factories will have to use these new, more precise models to prove they will not worsen local air quality.

For decades, the models used to predict air pollution were based on older science. This update means that new factories, power plants, and other large facilities will be held to a more accurate standard when assessing their impact on local air. It becomes harder for companies to argue that their emissions will disperse harmlessly, potentially leading to stricter controls or different site selections.