The Future of US Climate Policy: Costs of Delaying the Clean Electricity Transition

The electricity sector faces uncharted and challenging waters on multiple fronts. Past legislative and regulatory agendas have been overturned, especially those dealing with emissions regulations, greenhouse gas reductions, and offshore wind. These changes are happening against a backdrop of unprecedented electricity use by data centers and other new sources of demand.

Past studies have examined the causes of electricity load growth and potential methods to address it. Less well-explored is the question of how shifts in political winds may impact the response of the electricity industry to these trends and uncertainties. This policy brief uses modeling to contrast current trends with those that resume a course toward a net-zero emissions future for electricity and examines how shifting policies around clean electricity generation affect costs to the sector as a whole.

NOTE: Shortly before publication of this policy brief, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it finalized repeal of its Final Greenhouse Gas Rule regulating emissions from existing coal and new natural gas power plants. Modeling was conducted for the brief in anticipation of the announcement.

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• Key Findings: Costs of Delaying the Clean Electricity Transition
   

For media inquiries, contact the Nicholas Institute communications team at ni-comm@duke.edu.