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Optimal Profits under Environmental Regulation: The Benefits from Emission Intensity Averaging

Hampf, Benjamin ; Rødseth, Kenneth Løvold (2014)
Optimal Profits under Environmental Regulation: The Benefits from Emission Intensity Averaging.
Report, Erstveröffentlichung

Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)

In this paper we analyze the economic effects of implementing EPA’s newly proposed regulations for carbon dioxide (CO2) on existing U.S. coal-fired power plants using nonparametric methods on a sample of 144 electricity generating units. Moreover, we develop an approach for evaluating the economic gains from averaging emission intensities among the utilities’ generating units, compared to implementing unit-specific performance standards. Our results show that the implementation of flexible standards leads to up to 2.7 billion dollars larger profits compared to the uniform standards. Moreover, we find that by adopting best practices, current profits can be maintained even if an intensity standard of 0.88 tons of CO2 per MWh is implemented. However, our results also indicate a trade-off between environmental and profit gains, since aggregate CO2 emissions are higher with emission intensity averaging than with uniform standards.

Typ des Eintrags: Report
Erschienen: 2014
Autor(en): Hampf, Benjamin ; Rødseth, Kenneth Løvold
Art des Eintrags: Erstveröffentlichung
Titel: Optimal Profits under Environmental Regulation: The Benefits from Emission Intensity Averaging
Sprache: Englisch
Publikationsjahr: 10 Dezember 2014
Ort: Darmstadt
Reihe: Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics
Band einer Reihe: 220
URL / URN: http://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/4705
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Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract):

In this paper we analyze the economic effects of implementing EPA’s newly proposed regulations for carbon dioxide (CO2) on existing U.S. coal-fired power plants using nonparametric methods on a sample of 144 electricity generating units. Moreover, we develop an approach for evaluating the economic gains from averaging emission intensities among the utilities’ generating units, compared to implementing unit-specific performance standards. Our results show that the implementation of flexible standards leads to up to 2.7 billion dollars larger profits compared to the uniform standards. Moreover, we find that by adopting best practices, current profits can be maintained even if an intensity standard of 0.88 tons of CO2 per MWh is implemented. However, our results also indicate a trade-off between environmental and profit gains, since aggregate CO2 emissions are higher with emission intensity averaging than with uniform standards.

Freie Schlagworte: JEL classification: D24, L50, Q54 Keywords: Environmental regulation, profit maximization, emission intensity averaging, nonparametric effciency analysis
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-47056
Sachgruppe der Dewey Dezimalklassifikatin (DDC): 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): 01 Fachbereich Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften
01 Fachbereich Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften > Volkswirtschaftliche Fachgebiete
01 Fachbereich Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften > Volkswirtschaftliche Fachgebiete > Fachgebiet Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung
Hinterlegungsdatum: 31 Jan 2016 21:00
Letzte Änderung: 11 Apr 2024 10:57
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