资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The power sector is the second-largest contributor of greenhouse (GHG) emissions in the United States, accounting for one-quarter of total emissions. Decarbonization of the power sector can play a leading role in cost-effective economy-wide emissions reductions given that deep emissions reductions are projected to cost more in other sectors. Resources for the Future, with support from the REBA Institute, analyzed decarbonization policy pathways for the power sector through RFF’s advanced power sector model, E4ST, to project the tradeoffs and impacts of key options, including:

1. A national clean energy standard (CES)—both a Fast CES (100% target by 2035) and a Slow CES (100%target by 2050)
2. Utility-led decarbonization—all investor-owned vertically integrated utilities fully decarbonize
3. A national transmission macrogrid
4. Expansion of competitive generation via expansion of organized wholesale electricity markets (OWMs)
5. Expansion of supply choice to almost all commercial and industrial customers