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An Analysis of Costs and Health Co-Benefits for a U.S. Power Plant Carbon Standard

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  • Jonathan J Buonocore
  • Kathleen F Lambert
  • Dallas Burtraw
  • Samantha Sekar
  • Charles T Driscoll

Abstract

Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants can have important “co-benefits” for public health by reducing emissions of air pollutants. Here, we examine the costs and health co-benefits, in monetary terms, for a policy that resembles the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. We then examine the spatial distribution of the co-benefits and costs, and the implications of a range of cost assumptions in the implementation year of 2020. Nationwide, the total health co-benefits were $29 billion 2010 USD (95% CI: $2.3 to $68 billion), and net co-benefits under our central cost case were $12 billion (95% CI: -$15 billion to $51 billion). Net co-benefits for this case in the implementation year were positive in 10 of the 14 regions studied. The results for our central case suggest that all but one region should experience positive net benefits within 5 years after implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan J Buonocore & Kathleen F Lambert & Dallas Burtraw & Samantha Sekar & Charles T Driscoll, 2016. "An Analysis of Costs and Health Co-Benefits for a U.S. Power Plant Carbon Standard," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0156308
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156308
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    6. Keyes, Amelia & Lambert, Kathleen & Burtraw, Dallas & Buonocore, Jonathan & Levy, Jonathan & Driscoll, Charles, 2018. "Carbon Standards Examined: A Comparison of At-the-Source and Beyond-the-Source Power Plant Carbon Standards," RFF Working Paper Series 18-20, Resources for the Future.

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