Adoption of environmental innovations at US power plants

PurposeThis paper is a case study that aims to trace the adoption of innovation of the fabric filter, an innovative pollution control device utilized in the industrial energy sector, in order to profile early adopters of this technology.Design/methodology/approachFollowing their introduction in the mid‐1970s, fabric filters, a new type of industrial scrubber, experienced aggressive growth, and by 1990, this new technology represented close to half of the new flue gas particulates (FGP) control units installed. The paper analyzes data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form 767, using t‐tests, cross tabulations and binomial regression to identify the characteristics of those boilers, plants and utilities that installed fabric filters from the late 1970s to 1990.FindingsAnalysis indicates that there are specific characteristics of early adopters of fabric filter technology such as the capacity and age of the associated boiler, the capacity and size of the utility, and whether the utility was privately or publicly owned.Originality/valueThis research is important in light of forthcoming rules for mercury control at these same units as they will likely require installation of some sort of control technology. The profile of the early adopter of environmental technology that emerges from this study can lead to a first‐to‐market advantage for firms eager to market the next innovation to this unique industrial marketplace.