Reduce Electricity Costs by Lowering Emissions

A new study from Synapse shows that pursuing a cleaner energy future will help reduce consumer costs while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The first in a series of briefs on the study, released today, describes the results of a Clean Energy Future scenario developed by Synapse. Synapse found that electric consumers can save $41 billion in the year 2040 as compared to business as usual if states pursue clean energy options.

Synapse used NREL's Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model to compare the costs of the United States transitioning to a Clean Energy Future with business‐as‐usual costs. In the Clean Energy Future, renewables grow rapidly to reach 70 percent of all generation by 2040, including nearly 200 GW of rooftop solar panels. Electricity sales are 25 percent lower than business-as-usual in 2040 as a result of savings from energy efficiency measures and standards, as well as demand response programs that pay participating consumers to curtail their energy use at times of peak demand. All coal-fired units built before 2005 are retired by 2040. This results in electric-sector carbon dioxide emissions 84 percent lower than business-as-usual levels in 2040.

Synapse will conduct related analyses to determine the state-by-state consumer bill impacts of the proposed and final Clean Power Plan. The briefs and the associated reports will be posted at http://synapse-energy.com/project/consumer-costs-low-emissions-futures. Stay tuned, also, for freely downloadable webinars on the impacts of the final Clean Power Plan.