Proposed legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will have little impact on
The report analyzes expected future economic adjustments associated with the proposed Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007, Senate Bill S.1766.
This bill, proposed by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Arlen Specter, would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the
The bill includes both a trading system for emissions allowances and a technology accelerator payment system, or TAP, in order to encourage cost-effective reductions and reduce any future uncertainties faced by businesses and households.
"According to our analysis using the RTI ADAGE model, the S.1766 bill would achieve emissions reductions with only a slight impact on economic growth," said Martin Ross, Ph.D., an energy and environmental economist at RTI.
The RTI analysis shows that enacting the bill would result in forecasted growth for U.S. Gross Domestic Product over the next 40 years of 2.69 percent annually, compared with 2.72 percent without the bill. Similar changes are estimated for growth in household consumption, and energy prices are expected to be modestly affected.
Technological advancements such as carbon capture and storage from electricity generation are an important component of meeting the targets in the bill.
"Issues affecting the necessary economic adjustments include things such as the availability of these new technologies and the extent of international actions to reduce greenhouse gases in both developed and developing countries," Ross said. "As written, the bill encourages development of advanced technologies to lower emissions. It is also important to note that the analysis focuses on costs of reducing emissions and does not consider economic benefits associated with preventing changes in climate."
The report is part of a five-year multiple-award contract RTI has with the EPA to provide technical assistance and outreach services to the EPA's Climate Change Division.
About RTI International
RTI International is one of the world’s leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With projects in more than 40 countries and a staff of more than 2,600, RTI offers innovative research and technical solutions to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, democratic governance, economic and social development, energy, and the environment. For more information, visit http://www.rti.org.