The Electric Utility Move to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: WILL IT WORK?

Abstract

The motivations behind voluntary efforts by U.S. elec-tric utilities to combat global warming are complex, and stem,originally, from an international policy-making meeting which tookplace in 1992 (The United Nation's Framework Convention on Cli-mate Change. or "UNFCCC"). The effects of the just-concluded KyotoConference have yet to appear as additional mandates or programs,although these will probably evolve.After the initial UN meeting, programs were then crafted on bothpolitical and industrial levels: A federal plan was quickly instituted in1993, The U.S. Climate Change Action Plan. which in turn stimu-lated the Climate Challenge Program, directly involving electricutilities. An allied voluntary effort is the United States Initiative onJoint Implementation ("USIJI.") Lastly, the Edison Electric Institute,reflecting electric utilities, has launched the Utility Forest CarbonManagement Program ("UFCMP."