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Mandate a Man to Fish?: Technological Advance in Cooling Systems at U.S. Thermal Electric Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Victor M. Peredo-Alvarez

    (Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling)

  • Allen S. Bellas

    (College of Management, Metropolitan State University)

  • Ian Lange

    (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines)

Abstract

Steam-based electrical generating plants use large quantities of water for cooling. The potential environmental impacts of water cooling systems have resulted in their inclusion in the Clean Water Act's (CWA) Sections 316(a), related to thermal discharges and 316(b), related to cooling water intake. The CWA mandates a technological standard for water cooling systems. This analysis examines how the performance-adjusted rates of thermal emissions and water withdrawals for cooling units have changed over their vintage and how these rates of change were impacted by imposition of the CWA. Though technology standards are believed to hinder technological progress, results show that progress occurred for cooling systems installed after the CWA and no progress occurred previous to it.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor M. Peredo-Alvarez & Allen S. Bellas & Ian Lange, 2015. "Mandate a Man to Fish?: Technological Advance in Cooling Systems at U.S. Thermal Electric Plants," Working Papers 2015-05, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp201505
    as

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    File URL: http://econbus-papers.mines.edu/working-papers/wp201505.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2015
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Popp, David & Newell, Richard G. & Jaffe, Adam B., 2010. "Energy, the Environment, and Technological Change," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 873-937, Elsevier.
    2. Maia David & Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné, 2005. "Environmental Regulation and the Eco-Industry," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 141-155, September.
    3. Allen Bellas & Ian Lange, 2010. "Technological progress in particulate removal equipment at U.S. coal burning power plants," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 180-192, October.
    4. David Popp, 2003. "Pollution control innovations and the Clean Air Act of 1990," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(4), pages 641-660.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Water Withdrawals; Thermal Pollution; Innovation; Environmental Policy;
    All these keywords.

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