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Assessing the role of renewable energy policies in landfill gas to energy projects

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  • Li, Shanjun
  • Yoo, Han Kyul
  • Macauley, Molly
  • Palmer, Karen
  • Shih, Jhih-Shyang

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas and has a global warming potential at least 28 times as high as carbon dioxide (CO2). In the United States, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills are reported to be the third-largest source of human-made methane emissions, responsible for 18% of methane emissions in 2011. Capturing landfill gas (LFG) for use as an energy source for electricity or heat produces alternative energy as well as environmental benefits. A host of federal and state policies encourage the development of landfill gas to energy (LFGE) projects. This research provides the first systematic economic assessment of the role of these policies on adoption decisions. Results suggest that Renewable Portfolio Standards and investment tax credits have contributed to the development of these projects, accounting for 13 of 277 projects during our data period from 1991 to 2010. These policy-induced projects lead to 10.4 MMTCO2e reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and a net benefit of $41.8 million.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Shanjun & Yoo, Han Kyul & Macauley, Molly & Palmer, Karen & Shih, Jhih-Shyang, 2015. "Assessing the role of renewable energy policies in landfill gas to energy projects," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 687-697.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:49:y:2015:i:c:p:687-697
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2015.03.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joshi, Girdhar & Pandey, Jitendra K. & Rana, Sravendra & Rawat, Devendra S., 2017. "Challenges and opportunities for the application of biofuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 850-866.
    2. Cudjoe, Dan & Han, Myat Su & Chen, Weiming, 2021. "Power generation from municipal solid waste landfilled in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    3. Luigi Ranieri & Giorgio Mossa & Roberta Pellegrino & Salvatore Digiesi, 2018. "Energy Recovery from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: A Real Options-Based Facility Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Renewable energy; Landfill methane; Renewable Portfolio Standards; Investment tax credit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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