Decompositions and Policy Consequences of an Extraordinary Decline in Air Pollution from Electricity Generation

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Holland, Stephen P.; Mansur, Erin T.; Muller, Nicholas Z.; Yates, Andrew J.
• 署名单位: University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Greensboro; National Bureau of Economic Research; Dartmouth College; Carnegie Mellon University; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina School of Medicine; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-ECONOMIC POLICY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7731
• DOI: 10.1257/pol.20190390
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 244-274
• 关键词: marginal emissions; energy intensity; COSTS; PRODUCTIVITY; benefits; vehicles; TRADE; LIFE; gas

摘要

Using integrated assessment models, we calculate the economic value of the extraordinary decline in emissions from US power plants. Annual local and global air pollution damages fell from $245 to $133 billion over 2010-2017. Decomposition shows changes in emission rates and generation shares among coal and gas plants account for more of this decline than changes in renewable generation, electricity consumption, and damage valuations. Econometrically estimated marginal damages declined in the East from 8.6 to 6 cents per kWh. Marginal damages increased slightly in the West and Texas. These estimates indicate electric vehicles are now cleaner on average than gasoline vehicles.