U.S. Emissions Trading Markets for SO2 and NOx

Resources for the Future Discussion Paper No. 09-40

42 Pages Posted: 17 Oct 2009

See all articles by Dallas Burtraw

Dallas Burtraw

Resources for the Future

Sarah Jo Fueyo Szambelan

Resources for the Future

Date Written: October 16, 2009

Abstract

The U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 initiated the first large experiment in the use of market-based regulation to control environmental problems with the introduction of an emissions trading program for sulfur dioxide emissions. Later that decade the second large trading program began for control of nitrogen oxide emissions. Although these programs are widely viewed as successful, their development and the emergence of associated environmental markets took various turns that provide lessons for the development of new markets, including markets for greenhouse gas emissions. This paper reviews the history of these programs and provides a glimpse of their future given the introduction of new regulations affecting multiple pollutants and given the expected implementation of climate policy.

Keywords: market-based regulation, Clean Air Act, electricity generation, air pollution, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides

JEL Classification: H23, Q25, Q28, D78

Suggested Citation

Burtraw, Dallas and Szambelan, Sarah Jo Fueyo, U.S. Emissions Trading Markets for SO2 and NOx (October 16, 2009). Resources for the Future Discussion Paper No. 09-40, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1490037 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1490037

Dallas Burtraw (Contact Author)

Resources for the Future ( email )

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202-328-5087 (Phone)

Sarah Jo Fueyo Szambelan

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

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