Technology Flexibility and Stringency for Greenhouse Gas Regulations

Resources for the Future DP 13-24

40 Pages Posted: 25 Jul 2013

See all articles by Dallas Burtraw

Dallas Burtraw

Resources for the Future

Matt Woerman

Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Date Written: July 23, 2013

Abstract

The Clean Air Act provides the primary regulatory framework for climate policy in the United States. Tradable performance standards (averaging) emerge as the likely tool to achieve flexibility in the regulation of existing stationary sources. This paper examines the relationship between flexibility and stringency. The metric to compare the stringency of policies is ambiguous. The relevant section of the act is traditionally technology based, suggesting an emissions rate focus. However, a specific emissions rate improvement averaged over a larger set of generators reduces the actual emissions change. A marginal abatement cost criterion to compare policy designs suggests cost-effectiveness across sources. This criterion can quadruple the emissions reductions that are achieved, with net social benefits exceeding $25 billion in 2020, with a 1.3 percent electricity price increase. Under the act, multiple stringency criteria are relevant. EPA should evaluate state implementation plans according to a portfolio of attributes, including effectiveness and cost.

Keywords: climate policy, efficiency, EPA, Clean Air Act, coal, compliance flexibility, regulation

JEL Classification: K32, Q54, Q58

Suggested Citation

Burtraw, Dallas and Woerman, Matt, Technology Flexibility and Stringency for Greenhouse Gas Regulations (July 23, 2013). Resources for the Future DP 13-24, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2298050 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2298050

Dallas Burtraw (Contact Author)

Resources for the Future ( email )

1616 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
202-328-5087 (Phone)

Matt Woerman

Colorado State University, Fort Collins ( email )

Fort Collins, CO 80523
CO 80523
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
62
Abstract Views
600
Rank
753,387
PlumX Metrics