Air Emissions Reductions: Where's the Cost?
Opponents of clean energy, and of environmental benefits in general, often object to the economic cost of reducing pollution. Wednesday, I reported that Delaware's air emissions from industrial sources are on course to fall by 60 percent in the next three years.
Here's what I'm wondering: Where's the economic harm? How will Delaware's economy suffer? In what ways will our standard of living be affected?
A 60 percent reduction in emissions is a big deal. According to the standard objections, a reduction of this magnitude should come with a big economic cost. And yet I don't see it. You might think of it as the dog that didn't bark in the night.
Here's what I'm wondering: Where's the economic harm? How will Delaware's economy suffer? In what ways will our standard of living be affected?
A 60 percent reduction in emissions is a big deal. According to the standard objections, a reduction of this magnitude should come with a big economic cost. And yet I don't see it. You might think of it as the dog that didn't bark in the night.
posted by Tom Noyes at 12:40 PM
2 Comments:
Is there an associated drop in energy production in Delaware? If so, will that deficit be filled with some other coal-fired power plant to our west?
Good question. Electricity generation in Delaware will not drop by a corresponding amount. NRG is closing three older units at Indian River. Calpine is converting to gas, but not reducing production.
But your concern is well grounded. Most of Delaware's electricity comes from out of state. I will have to work on the numbers.
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