Cost of electricity: cheap power vs. a clean environment
The skyrocketing cost of electricity is of great concern to residential and industrial consumers. The public wants to know why these costs are increasing so rapidly, if this inflationary trend will continue, and what can be done to moderate these spiralling costs. With the scarcity of domestic petroleum, natural gas, and low-sulfur coal becoming ever more acute, using these scarce resources to satisfy one need means they will not be available to satisfy another. In terms of using these fuels to generate electricity, tradeoffs must be made among the goals of a clean environment, independence from foreign energy, and an affordable cost of living. This study clearly shows the real costs and tradeoffs resulting from decisions to either control waste discharges to the water and the air or to force electric utilities to burn cheaper, dirty coal instead of clean natural gas and oil products. This book also analyzes the real costs of variations in electricity use, low-sulfur coal prices, and capital availabilities. This economic framework synthesizes the relevant technical information into a computer-based model of the industry to identify key decision variables and to measure the resource, environmental, and economic consequences of changes in these variables. This is significant since previously historical data were used to show economic consequences of major government policy decisions in these areas; yet past trends have no bearing on the future in a period of such a drastic change, when so many variables are involved. Results of the study show how restrictive waste discharge standards, the resultant decrease in availability of clean fuels, and a scarcity of capital for utility investment affect the structure of the electric power industry and the end costs to consumers.
- OSTI ID:
- 6860188
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ELECTRIC POWER
CHARGES
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
AVAILABILITY
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTROL
COST
DECISION MAKING
ECONOMIC POLICY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY MODELS
ENERGY SHORTAGES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOREIGN POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
MARKET
PETROLEUM
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SOCIAL IMPACT
STANDARDS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
POWER
296000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power
320900 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Education & Public Relations- (1980-)
290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
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