Plugging in for cities: the impact of power infrastructure on urban agglomeration

Xiaohua Xia, Jialu Wu, Lianzhou Tang (), Baifan Chen and Ying Zheng
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Xiaohua Xia: National Academy of Development and Strategy
Jialu Wu: School of Applied Economics
Lianzhou Tang: School of Applied Economics
Baifan Chen: School of Applied Economics
Ying Zheng: School of Applied Economics

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract This article demonstrates that the construction of power plants spurs urban agglomeration. Cities with large thermal power plants experience reductions in built-up area sizes while seeing increases in population density and building heights. The underlying mechanisms of these observations include variations in electricity supply, economic development, and environmental impact. Notably, gas-fired power plants exhibit superior performance in population agglomeration compared to their large-scale, heavily polluted thermal counterparts. To elucidate the trade-offs individuals make between different power plant attributes, we analyze the spatial distribution of populations around coal-fired power plants within urban areas. Additionally, we conduct a heterogeneity analysis across four dimensions: traffic infrastructure, economic growth, environmental regulation, and geographical factors.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05146-7

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