Impacts of Fuel Prices and Regulations on Electricity Generation Emissions and Urban Air Quality
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Mei, Eric John
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Abstract
Regulatory actions and fuel price trends have decreased emissions from electricity generating units (EGUs) in the United States. The objective of this thesis is to separate the impacts of regulations and fuel prices on EGU emissions and air pollution in Atlanta and New York City (NYC) between 2006 and 2019. We used observed fuel prices, electricity demand, EGU emissions, and air pollutant concentrations to estimate what air pollutant concentrations would have been under different (counterfactual) fuel price and regulatory scenarios. By comparing the actual and counterfactual scenarios, we find that fuel prices influenced EGU dispatch, which reduced ozone and PM2.5 in Atlanta beginning 2009 and PM2.5 in NYC beginning 2012. Beginning 2008, installation of emissions controls due to the Clean Air Interstate Rule reduced PM2.5 year-round but increased ozone during winter months. Coal EGU retirements due to the combined influence of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, and other market and policy factors account for the remaining long-term reductions in PM2.5 and ozone. Such information can be used to estimate the air quality and health benefits of past controls and aid the development of effective future emissions reductions strategies.
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2023-07-25
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