Electricity restructuring: Environmental impacts

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy

OSTI ID:576819

Palmer, K ^[1]

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1. Resources for the Future, Washington, DC (United States)

If the price of electricity falls, consumption may well rise. Will air quality suffer as a result? That`s a distinct possibility, says Karen Palmer, a fellow at Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C. In the short run, companies may rely on dirtier, cheaper, coal-fired plants to respond to increased demand, Palmer says. Eventually, though, older plants will have to be retired, and they may be replaced with more efficient, natural-gas-fired units, or even renewable solar or wind-driven plants. {open_quotes}However, absent a rapid rise in the rate of growth of electricity demand, hastened introduction of new gas-fired or renewables facilities is unlikely,{close_quotes} Palmer says. In the meantime, voluntary and mandatory caps on emissions will not necessarily be abandoned. For example, 37 Eastern states have banded together to cap emissions of nitrogen oxides and establish an emissions-trading program. {open_quotes}In short, regulations will continue to prompt a reduction in air-pollution levels regardless of the competitive pressures experienced by utilities in this new environment,{close_quotes} Palmer says.

• OSTI ID: 576819
• Journal Information: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, Journal Name: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 12; ISSN FARPEL; ISSN 0887-8218
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
AIR POLLUTION
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
POLLUTION REGULATIONS