Baruch College Professor Co-Authors Study Showing Imported Solar Panels Save Lives and Reduce Climate Costs

Baruch College Professor Co-Authors Study Showing Imported Solar Panels Save Lives and Reduce Climate Costs

December 8, 2025

Baruch College Associate Professor Gang He has led a research project and co-authored new peer-reviewed research showing that imported solar panels helped prevent nearly 600 premature deaths in the United States while generating approximately $28 billion in combined climate and public-health benefits. The findings show how clean-energy decisions can meaningfully affect emissions, air quality, and public health.

Research with Real-World Impact
The study - published in One Earth - found that solar panels imported into the U.S. between 2014 and 2022 displaced 305 TWh of fossil-fuel electricity, avoided 178 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and significantly reduced air pollution nationwide. These avoided emissions account for billions of dollars in climate and health benefits.

"Our research shows that imported solar panels do more than save money," He said. "They save lives and reduce emissions. As we redesign energy and trade policies, we need to make sure we're not leaving these benefits off the table."

Expertise in Energy and Climate Policy
Professor He teaches at Baruch's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, where his work focuses on energy and climate policy analysis, energy system modeling, and sustainable energy transitions. His research, rooted in policy evaluation and quantitative methods, reflects the same evidence-based, real-world problem solving that Marxe students practice in their coursework and applied projects.

His role in this study highlights Baruch's commitment in energy and climate research, connecting faculty expertise to ongoing policy discussions about clean energy, environmental impacts, and long-term planning.

Preparing Students to Lead on Climate and Policy
The study contributed to the Marxe School's mission to prepare students for careers in public affairs, sustainability, and environmental policy. Through faculty-led research and policy-focused coursework, students gain experience exploring the kinds of energy-transition challenges and solutions featured in this national study.

Read the Study
Full findings are available in the study published in One Earth.