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Environmental Effects of the Electric Sector

Analysis of S.139, the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003
Highlights/Summary Section - PDF
Full Report - PDF
On January 9, 2003, Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman introduced S.139, the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 (S.139), in the U.S. Senate. This report responds to a request from Senator James Inhofe, received on January 28, 2003, and Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, received on April 2, 2003, to analyze the impact of S.139. S.139 would establish regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions primarily through an emission allowance program and related emissions reporting requirements. The emissions allowance program would apply to most greenhouse gas emissions sources, the exceptions being the emissions from the residential and agriculture sectors, as well as emissions from organizational entities whose annual emissions are less than a certain threshold.

Analysis of S. 485, the Clear Skies Act of 2003, and S. 843, the Clean Air Planning Act of 2003 - PDF
Requestor: Senator James M. Inhofe, Chairman, Commmittee on Environment and Public Works
This report responds to a request received from Senator James Inhofe on July 30, 2003 that the Energy Information Administration analyze the impacts of S. 843, the Clean Air Planning Act of 2003 and S. 485, the Clear Skies Act of 2003. The report analyzes the impacts of limits on nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide emissions (for S. 843) from electricity generators. As requested by Senator Inhofe, for S. 485, analysis is included with and without the mercury provisions and, for S. 843, analysis is included with and without the mercury and carbon dioxide provisions.

Supplement to Analysis of a 10-Percent Renewable Portfolio Standard - HTML, PDF
Requestor: Senator Pete Domenici, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
This report responds to a request received from Senator Pete Domenici, on June 10, 2003 to provide additional results from the analyses requested by Senator Jeff Bingaman to analyze the proposed Renewable Portfolio Standard with alternative assumptions regarding the ability of State-mandated renewable programs and biomass co-firing to contribute to meeting program goals; and to conduct a separate analysis assuming that all credits needed for compliance are purchased from the Secretary of Energy, as provided for in the proposed legislation.

Addendum: Analysis of a 10-Percent Renewable Portfolio Standard - HTML, PDF
Requestor: Senator Jeff Bingaman
This report responds to a request received from Senator Jeff Bingaman on June 5, 2003 to analyze a proposed Renewable Portfolio Standard with an inflation-adjusted credit price cap of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, rather than a nominal price cap as assumed in the June 2, 2003 report. Otherwise, all assumptions are the same as in the original analysis.

Analysis of a 10-Percent Renewable Portfolio Standard - HTML, PDF
Requestor: Senator Jeff Bingaman
This report responds to a request received from Senator Jeff Bingaman on May 8, 2003 to analyze a nationwide Renewable Portfolio Standard program proposed as an amendment to energy legislation pending before the U.S. Senate.

Impacts of a 10-Percent Renewable Portfolio Standard - PDF - Errata
Requestor: Senator Frank Murkowski
This report responds to a request received from Senator Frank Murkowski on December 20, 2001 to analyze the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) provision of S. 1766. At Senator Murkowski’s request it also includes an analysis of the impacts of a renewable portfolio standard patterned after the one called for in S. 1766, but where the required share is based on a 20 percent RPS by 2020 rather than the 10 percent RPS called for in S. 1766.

Analysis of Strategies for Reducing Multiple Emissions from Electric Power Plants With Advanced Technology Scenarios - (HTML), PDF
This service report describes the impacts of technology improvements and other market-based opportunities on the costs of emissions reductions from electricity generators, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide.

Reducing Emissions of Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and Mercury from Electric Power Plants - (HTML), PDF
This service report describes the impacts of scenarios with alternative power sector emission caps on nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury.

Analysis of Strategies for Reducing Multiple Emissions from Electric Power Plants: Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Dioxide, and Mercury and a Renewable Portfolio Standard - PDF
This service report describes the impacts of imposing caps on power sector emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide with and without a renewable portfolio standard.

Analysis of Strategies for Reducing Multiple Emissions from Power Plants: Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and Carbon Dioxide - HTML, PDF
This service report provides an analysis of the impacts on energy consumers and producers of coordinated strategies to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide at U.S. power plants.

Changing Structure of the Electric Power Industry: An Update - HTML
Update to the original 3/93 publication includes Part I, Chapter 4, Federal Legislative Impacts, including brief discussions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

March 1993 publication - PDF

Power Plant Emissions Reductions Using a Generation Performance Standard - HTML, PDF
In a previous analysis, the Energy Information Administration analyzed the impacts of power sector caps on nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, assuming a policy instrument patterned after the sulfur dioxide allowance program created in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This report compares the results of that work with the results of an analysis that assumes the use of a dynamic generation performance standard as an instrument for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In general, the results of the two analyses are similar: to reduce carbon dioxide emissions the power sector is expected to turn away from coal-fired generation to natural gas and, to a lesser extent, renewables.

The Comprehensive Electricity Competition Act: A Comparison of Model Results - HTML, PDF
Requester: Secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson
This report responds to a request received from Secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson on June 24, 1999 to use the National Energy Modeling System to evaluate the effects of the Administration's restructuring proposal using the parameter settings and assumptions from the Policy Office Electricity Modeling System analysis as described in the May 1999 publication, Supporting Analysis for the Comprehensive Electricity Act.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the United States 1999 - HTML Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the United States, a joint DOE/EPA report, prepared in response to an April 15, 1999 Presidential directive requiring an annual report summarizing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by electricity generation in the United States, including both utilities and nonutilities.

U.S. Electric Utility Demand-Side Management 1997 - HTML
This publication presents a general discussion of DSM, its history, current issues, and a review of key statistics for the year. Additional information is presented on energy savings, peak load reductions and costs attributable to DSM.

U.S. Electric Utility Demand-Side Management Trends and Analysis - HTML
A look at one of the primary tools utilities are using to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in the context of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

U.S. Electric Utility Environmental Statistics - HTML
1998 Electric Power Annual, Volume 2, Table 22. Estimated Emissions from Fossil-fueled Steam-electric Generating Units at U.S. Electric Utilities, 1994-1998.

Electricity Generation and Environmental Externalities: Case Studies - HTML, PDF
Describes the policies adopted by three (MA, WI, CA) State regulatory authorities regarding the treatment of environmental externalities in the utility regulatory process, and evaluates their impact on the resource selection process.

Electric Utility Related Environmental Data Tables - HTML
Emissions and fuel quality information for fossil fuels burned at US electric utilities.

Environmental Externalities in Electric Power Markets: Acid Rain, Urban Ozone and Climate Change - HTML
Discusses emissions resulting from utilities' electricity generation and their role in contributing to acid rain, urban ozone, and climate change. Also discusses the general concept of environmental externalities and assesses the means that have been devised to ameliorate them. Feature article in Renewable Energy Annual 1995 (REA95). Also available: REA97

Reducing Nitrogen Oxide Emissions: 1996 Compliance with Title IV Limits - HTML
Feature Article, summarizing the existing Federal NOx regulations and the 1996 performance of the 239 Title IV generating units. Also reviews the basics of low-NOx burner technology and presents cost and performance data for retrofits at Title IV units.

Relicensing and Environmental Issues Affecting Hydropower - PDF
Feature Article, presents overview of the hydropower industry and addresses environmental pros and cons of this energy source.

The Effects of Title IV of the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 on Electric Utilities: An Update - HTML, PDF
Describes the strategies used to comply with the Acid Rain Program in 1995, the effect of compliance on SO2 emissions levels, the cost of compliance, and the effects of the program on coal supply and demand. Updates and expands a report published by the Energy Information Administration in 1994 titled, Electric Utility Phase I Acid Rain Compliance Strategies for the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Changing Structure of the Electric Power Industry: An Update - HTML, PDF
This 12/96 update to the original 3/93 publication includes Part I, Chapter 4, Federal Legislative Impacts, including brief discussions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

The Impact of Environmental Compliance Costs on U.S. Refining Profitability - HTML, PDF
The financial impacts of U.S. refining pollution abatement investment requirements in the 1990's.

Reducing Nitrogen Oxide Emissions- HTML
A variety of Federal and State regulatory initiatives are aimed at reducing nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions from electricity generators. NO_x emissions are a concern because they contribute to the formation of acid rain and, either directly or through the creation of ozone, lead to harmful effects on human health. It has been determined that the combustion of fossil fuels is the major source of NO_x emissions. According to estimates made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highway vehicles accounted for 35 percent of the 22 million tons of NO_x emissions in the United States in 1995, and electric utilities accounted for 29 percent.