Leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act to Achieve 80x30 in the US Electricity Sector
This paper examines the consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act and of policies designed to hit the Paris target for generation mix, consumer costs of electricity, the federal budget, air quality, and human health.
Abstract
The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) promises to deliver important reductions in CO₂ emissions from the electricity sector along with a host of other benefits to citizens and electricity consumers, but it falls short of achieving the 80 percent reduction (below 2005 levels) by 2030 (80x30) consistent with meeting the nation's Paris goals. This paper examines the consequences of the IRA and of policies designed to hit the Paris target for generation mix, consumer costs of electricity, the federal budget, air quality, and human health. Our modeling shows that the IRA substantially reduces the allowance price necessary under an emissions trading cap to meeting the 80x30 goal in the power sector and that doing so yields savings to consumers, particularly those with lower incomes, and additional health benefits beyond those promised from the IRA.
