Electricity sector analysis in the clean energy futures study

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of policies to reduce carbon and other air emissions in the electric sector. The analysis is from a recent scenario development effort, Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future (CEF), by five National Laboratories. The CEF assesses how policies can be used to promote energy-efficient and clean energy technologies to address key energy and environmental challenges facing the United States. The impact of policies in the electric sector is evaluated using the CEF-NEMS model, which is derived from the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) model developed by the DOE Energy Information Administration. The analysis shows that by 2020 under the policies analyzed, CO 2 and other emissions can be substantially reduced by moving from coal to advanced gas combined cycle systems and renewable energy. Prices show little change and may drop due to decreased end-use demands.