Effectiveness of state climate and energy policies in reducing power-sector CO2 emissions

States have historically been the primary drivers of climate change policy in the US, particularly with regard to emissions from power plants. States have implemented policies designed either to directly curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants, or to encourage energy efficiency and ren...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature climate change 2017-12, Vol.7 (12), p.912-919
Main Authors: Martin, Geoff, Saikawa, Eri
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
704/844/2175
704/844/4066/4076
704/844/682
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide emissions
Climate
Climate Change
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Climate effects
Climate policy
Decoupling
Earth and Environmental Science
Electric power plants
Emissions
Energy
Energy efficiency
Energy policies
Energy policy
Environment
Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice
Environmental management
Environmental policy
Federal government
Funds
Global climate
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases
Industrial plant emissions
Power efficiency
Power plants
Reduction
Renewable energy
Renewable resources
Resource management
State power
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Summary:States have historically been the primary drivers of climate change policy in the US, particularly with regard to emissions from power plants. States have implemented policies designed either to directly curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants, or to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy growth. With the federal government withdrawing from the global climate agreement, understanding which state-level policies have successfully mitigated power-plant emissions is urgent. Past research has assessed policy effectiveness using data for periods before the adoption of many policies. We assess 17 policies using the latest data on state-level power-sector CO 2 emissions. We find that policies with mandatory compliance are reducing power-plant emissions, while voluntary policies are not. Electric decoupling, mandatory GHG registry/reporting and public benefit funds are associated with the largest reduction in emissions. Mandatory GHG registry/reporting and public benefit funds are also associated with a large reduction in emissions intensity. State policies play a key role in mitigation of power-sector emissions. Analysis of 17 policies in the US shows that mandatory compliance is reducing emissions, with the largest reductions related to greenhouse gas reporting and public benefit funds.
ISSN:1758-678X
1758-6798
DOI:10.1038/s41558-017-0001-0