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A model to evaluate CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US

Arar, Joseph I
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1186020342

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
A model was constructed to simulate emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the electricity generation and transportation sectors in the US. The model was then used to develop 30-year projections of CO2 emissions from the two sectors in the US and from electricity generation in Ohio. The projections were evaluated to determine the ability of various CO2 reduction strategies to achieve desired emission levels. The study concluded that under “business as usual” (BaU) conditions, electricity generation and transportation in the US will add approximately 43 gigatons of carbon to the atmosphere over the next 30 years. In the case of electricity generation, the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) adopted by 23 States will decrease emissions by only 5.5 %, short of a 52% reduction obtained by imposing a 1990-level cap on emissions. Applying the Energy Efficiency Standards proposed by the Ohio Consumers Council (OCC) to the entire US would achieve a reduction of approximately 39% from the BaU case, as would applying the California Standards nationally. Capping emissions at the 2000 level would result in a reduction of 38%. If CO2 sequestration and/or control were the sole methods of reducing emissions, their combined control efficiency would need to reach 47% by the end of the 30-year period to maintain emissions at the 2005 levels. For automobiles and light-duty trucks, capping emissions at the 2000 level would reduce the BaU, 30-year emissions by 50%. Applying the California rules at the national level would result in a 30% decrease. This would have substantially the same effect as capping emissions at the 2005 level. In Ohio, the electricity generation BaU case would add 1,155 million tons of carbon to the atmosphere over 30 years. Implementing the RPS proposed by the OCC would reduce that amount by 17%, to 954 million tons over 30 years. Capping emissions at the 2005 level could be accomplished by immediately reducing the coal percentage in the Ohio fuel mix from 89% to 83%. Beyond the scenarios evaluated in this research, the model can serve as a flexible tool for determining whether a given strategy will achieve the desired goals.
Douglas Southgate (Advisor)
253 p.
CO2; carbon dioxide emissions; global warming; climate change; emissions model; greenhouse gases; electricity generation greenhouse gas emissions; transportation greenhouse gas emissions; cap and trade; Ohio electricity generation emissions; CAFE standard

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Arar, J. I. (2007). A model to evaluate CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1186020342

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Arar, Joseph. A model to evaluate CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1186020342.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Arar, Joseph. "A model to evaluate CO2 emission reduction strategies in the US." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1186020342

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1186020342
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12