The world can switch to clean energy sources by 2050 without great expense while maintaining a reliable power supply, according to a report by a Synapse Energy Economics on behalf of the Civil Society Institute.
Yesterday, we reported similar conclusions from the first peer-reviewed study that shows how a large economy (California) can reduce greenhouse gas emissons 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
In fact, making the transition would result in a net savings of $83 billion over the next 40 years, concludes Synapse, while creating millions of jobs, preventing tens of thousands of premature deaths due to pollution, in addition to sharply cutting emissions and water consumption for power production.
How would this be accomplished?
Significantly increasing energy efficiency would reduce power sector carbon emissions 25% below 2010 levels by 2020 and 81% by 2050. Under status quo trends, CO2 emissions will grow 28% from current levels by 2050.
Construction and operation of renewable energy plants would create roughly 3.1 million job-years – the equivalent of 310,000 people employed for a decade.
All coal plants would be retired by 2050, eliminating associated health and environmental costs, including water use. Under status quo trends, there would be over 50,000 premature deaths from coal plant pollution.
Natural gas use would decline 28% from projected levels in 2050. 25% of existing nuclear plants would be retired and no new ones would be built, significantly reducing the risks associated with that technology.
"U.S. policymakers and others who assume that a safe, renewable energy future – including an end to reliance on coal-fired electric power and a sharply reduced reliance on nuclear power and natural gas – is impractical and too expensive for the U.S. to achieve are wrong. The truth is that America can and should embrace a workable and cost-effective future that is built on safe, renewable energy. Not only is it feasible and less expensive to do so, but we really have no other choice as a nation, given the concerns about coal emissions, natural gas ‘fracking,’ and nuclear reactor safety," says Pam Solo, President of the Civil Society Institute.
"A transition to efficiency and renewable energy for our electricity is likely to be less expensive than the business-as-usual status quo approach. There are indications now that the cost of replacing coal with clean energy is falling. The current and projected price of coal has increased, and the price of photovoltaic systems has fallen sharply since 2009, a result of unprecedented growth in this sector globally. Further, the financial community is placing higher risk premiums on technologies with carbon emissions, making renewable energy and efficiency more attractive," says Bruce Biewald, Synapse Energy Economics President.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan Civil Society Institute is a think tank that’s conducted over 25 major national and state-level surveys and reports on energy and auto issues since 2003. Its work covers vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, consumer demand for hybrids/other highly-fuel efficient vehicles, global warming and renewable energy. It’s the parent organization of 40MPG.org and Hybrid Owners of America.
Synapse Energy Economics provides research, testimony, and regulatory support on energy, economic, and environmental topics.
Here’s the report, "Toward a Sustainable Future for the U.S. Power Sector: Beyond Business as Usual 2011":
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