A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that different strategies used by states to reduce power plant emissions -- direct ones such as emission caps and indirect ones like encouraging renewable energy -- are both effective. The study is the first analysis of its kind.
The findings are important because the success of the Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 proposed Clean Power Plan depends on the effectiveness of states鈥� policies in reducing power plants鈥� carbon dioxide emissions. The plan would require each state to cut CO2 pollution from power plants by 30 percent from their 2005 levels by 2030.
鈥淚n addition to suggesting that the EPA鈥檚 Clean Power Plan can work, our results have important implications for the U.N. Climate Summit,鈥� said Professor Don Grant, chair of the 抖阴旅行射-Boulder sociology department and lead author of the study. 鈥淭hey indicate that while the world鈥檚 nations have struggled to agree on how to reduce emissions, sub-national governments have been developing several effective mitigation measures. Leaders at the United Nations, therefore, would be wise to shift from a top-down strategy that focuses on forging international treaties to a more bottom-up approach that builds upon established policy successes.鈥�
The study was published online this week in Nature Climate Change. The study was co-authored by Kelly Bergstrand of the University of Arizona and Katrina Running of Idaho State University, and was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Researchers had previously found it difficult to determine which state policies, if any, reduced power plants鈥� CO2 emissions because plant-specific data were largely unavailable, Grant said. That changed when the EPA began requiring plants to submit CO2 pollution information as part of its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
Some states have policies that directly limit power plants鈥� carbon emissions and others have addressed carbon emissions indirectly by encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The study used 2005 and 2010 data to examine the impacts of strategies that are explicitly climate-focused such as carbon emission caps, greenhouse gas reduction goals, climate action plans (comprehensive strategies for reducing a state鈥檚 carbon emissions) and greenhouse gas registry/reporting system that require plants to register and record their emissions and emissions reductions.
Likewise, the researchers examined indirect policies with climate implications such as efficiency targets, renewable portfolio standards that require utilities to deliver a certain amount of electricity from renewable or alternative energy sources, public benefit funds that provide financial assistance for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and 鈥渆lectric decoupling鈥� that eases the pressure on utilities to sell as much energy as possible by eliminating the relationship between revenues and sales volume.
The study found that emission caps, greenhouse gas targets, efficiency targets, public benefit funds and electric decoupling were the most effective policies for reducing power plants鈥� carbon emissions.
The authors noted limitations of the study, including changes that may have occurred since 2010, that variations within individual policies were not examined and that the most effective policy combinations are not known.
鈥淭hese limitations notwithstanding, our findings are encouraging news about the efficacy of states鈥� policies,鈥� the authors wrote. 鈥淭he fact that some have decreased individual power plants鈥� emissions after controlling for several other possible determinants highlights their potential as regulatory tools and suggests that states are capable of achieving the emission goals set by the federal government.鈥�
Grant also is affiliated with the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, a joint venture with the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the university鈥檚 Institute of Behavioral Science.
Contact:
Don Grant, 303-492-6410
Don.GrantII@colorado.edu
Peter Caughey, 抖阴旅行射-Boulder media relations, 303-492-4007
caughey@colorado.edu
