Climate 2030: A National Blueprint for a Clean Energy Economy

SMART POLICIES WOULD LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS

UCS’s blueprint policies would reduce U.S. power plant carbon emissions 84 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and lower consumer and business electricity bills across the country.

“Efficiency and renewable energy technologies are ready today to power our economy with carbon-free electricity,” said Steve Clemmer, UCS Clean Energy Program research director and a study co-author. “Our analysis shows that clean energy sources can lead the way in cutting U.S. emissions, lower electricity bills, and curb our addiction to dirty, high-carbon coal power.”

The policies that would help bring about the savings include new energy efficiency standards and incentives that would steadily improve the efficiency in homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, and industrial facilities. Homeowners and businesses would invest in more efficient heating systems, air conditioners, lighting and appliances to lower electricity and heating bills. In addition, a renewable electricity standard would reduce the nation’s reliance on coal and natural gas to generate electricity, which would drive down prices for those fuels and help stabilize electricity prices.

“Our policy recommendations also would cut the cost of natural gas, home heating oil, and industrial and commercial oil use,” Clemmer added. “But the lion’s share of the savings would come from cutting electricity demand.”

MOTORISTS WOULD SAVE MONEY AT THE PUMP

UCS’s blueprint found that a number of transportation policies would curb global warming emissions from cars and light-trucks to 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 -- and save motorists money. Under the analysis, these policies would increase gasoline prices by no more than 24 cents per gallon over the next 20 years -- less than the amount they increased over the last month. That modest increase -- and the cost of investing in the cleaner vehicles, better transportation choices, and low-carbon fuels required by the new policies -- would be more than offset by savings.

The blueprint’s transportation policies include vehicle carbon emission standards, which would lead to more efficient cars and trucks and improved vehicle air conditioning systems; and smart growth policies that would provide better transportation choices, reducing the number of miles motorists drive every year. Another blueprint policy, a low-carbon fuel standard, would require cleaner fuels to reduce oil consumption and strengthen U.S. energy security. All of these policies would contribute to overall transportation cost savings.

“Our transportation system needs a major tune-up to help consumers fight rising gas prices, curb our oil addiction, and reduce our carbon emissions,” said David Friedman, UCS Clean Vehicles Program research director and a co-author of the study. “Our analysis shows that cleaner cars, low-carbon fuels, and alternatives to getting stuck in traffic can cut emissions and transportation costs at the same time.”

Currently 14 states, have adopted a single set of vehicle carbon emission standards. Nine other states are considering adopting similar standards. In a sign of significant progress, the Obama administration today announced strong vehicle carbon emissions standards, consistent with state efforts.

REGIONS:

EAST NORTH CENTRAL – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin

EAST SOUTH CENTRAL – Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee

MIDDLE ATLANTIC – New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

MOUNTAIN – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming

NEW ENGLAND – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

PACIFIC – Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington

SOUTH ATLANTIC – Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington D.C.

WEST NORTH CENTRAL – Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota

WEST SOUTH CENTRAL – Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas

INFO BY REGION:

EAST NORTH CENTRAL – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin

In the East North Central region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $213 for the average household in 2020 and $808 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $2.2 billion in 2020 and $15.8 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the East North Central region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $43 in 2020 and $160 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $3.8 billion in 2020 and $11.9 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the East North Central region would see a net savings of $180 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $400 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $637 for a household and $5.5 billion for all businesses in the region.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin in the East North Central region, have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

EAST SOUTH CENTRAL – Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee

In the East South Central region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $136 for the average household in 2020 and $602 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $1.9 billion in 2020 and $10.2 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the East South Central region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $76 in 2020 and $145 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $1.6 billion in 2020 and $3.9 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the East South Central region would see a net savings of $173 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $1 billion in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $590 for a household and $6.1 billion for all businesses in the region.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC – New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

In the Middle Atlantic region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $462 for the average household in 2020 and $1,121 in 2030. The Middle Atlantic region includes New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Businesses in the region would collectively save $6.4 billion in 2020 and $16.8 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the Middle Atlantic region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $200 in 2020 and $342 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $7.4 billion in 2020 and $13.4 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households and businesses in the Middle Atlantic region would see a net savings of $2.4 billion in 2020 and $9 billion in 2030. Households alone would enjoy a savings of $151 in 2020 and $536 in 2030.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

MOUNTAIN – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming

In the Mountain region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $174 for the average household in 2020 and $877 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $1.5 billion in 2020 and $11.2 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the Mountain region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $71 in 2020 and $387 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $1.1 billion in 2020 and $4.6 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the Mountain region would see a net savings of $164 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $700 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $534 for a household and $5.2 billion for all businesses in the region.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, and New Mexico, have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

NEW ENGLAND – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

In New England, these combined policies would provide net savings of $673 for the average household in 2020 and $1,548 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $3 billion in 2020 and $6.6 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in New England would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $199 in 2020 and $401 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $2.4 billion in 2020 and $5.2 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in New England would see a net savings of $186 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $200 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $660 for a household and $1.7 billion for all businesses.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Vermont, Connecticut, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

PACIFIC – Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington

In the Pacific region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $307 for the average household in 2020 and $960 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $4.5 billion in 2020 and $3.8 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the Pacific region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $120 in 2020 and $305 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $5 billion in 2020 and $12.5 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households and businesses together in the Pacific region would see a net savings of $3.2 billion in 2020 and $4.9 billion in 2030. Households alone would save $193 in 2020 and $661 in 2030.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including California, Hawaii and Washington, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

SOUTH ATLANTIC – Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington D.C.

In the South Atlantic region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $304 for the average household in 2020 and $718 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $7.2 billion in 2020 and $25.6 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the South Atlantic region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $157 in 2020 and $223 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $6.4 billion in 2020 and $12 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the South Atlantic region would see a net savings of $150 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $500 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $488 for a household and $10.5 billion for all businesses in the region.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

WEST NORTH CENTRAL – Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota

In the West North Central region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $123 for the average household in 2020 and $801 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively see slight savings of about $10 million in 2020, and increasing to $8.2 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the West North Central region would see a slight increase on electricity bills of $37 in 2020, but in 2030 would see savings of $119. Businesses and industries would collectively see a relatively modest increase of $200 million in 2020, but savings of $2.9 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the West North Central region would see a net savings of $190 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $700 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $670 for a household and $4.3 billion for all businesses in the region.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Iowa and Minnesota have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.

WEST SOUTH CENTRAL – Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas

In the West South Central region, these combined policies would provide net savings of $342 for the average household in 2020 and $983 in 2030. Businesses in the region would collectively save $8.8 billion in 2020 and $31.2 billion in 2030.

Energy Policies

Households in the West South Central region would see annual net savings on electricity bills of $212 in 2020 and $428 in 2030, while businesses and industries would realize net savings of $5.8 billion in 2020 and $13.2 billion in 2030.

Transportation Policies

Households in the West South Central region would see a net savings of $159 in 2020. Businesses collectively would net $900 million in savings that same year. In 2030, transportation net savings would rise to $524 for a household and $10.7 billion for all businesses in the region.

State Level

UCS’s blueprint policies have a proven track record at the state level. For example, 28 states, including Texas, have adopted renewable electricity standards, while 18 states, including Texas, have adopted energy efficiency resource standards.