The climate and health effects of a USA switch from coal to gas electricity generation. (15th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lueken, Roger; Klima, Kelly; Griffin, W. Michael; Apt, Jay
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 109(2016)
• Page Start: 1160
• Page End: 1166
• Publication Date: 2016-08-15
• Subjects: Natural gas -- Coal -- Climate change -- Criteria pollutants -- Human health; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: Abundant natural gas at low prices has prompted industry and politicians to welcome gas as a 'bridge fuel' between today's coal-intensive electric power generation and a future low-carbon grid. We used existing national datasets and publicly available models to investigate the upper limit to the emission benefits of natural gas in the USA power sector. As a limiting case, we analyzed a switch of all USA coal plants to natural gas plants, occurring in 2016. The human health benefits of such a switch are substantial: SO2 emissions are reduced from the baseline (MATS (Mercury and Air Toxics Standard) retrofits by 2016) by more than 90%, and NOX emissions by more than 60%, reducing total national annual health damages by $20 – $50 billion annually. While the effect on global temperatures is small out to 2040, the USA power plant fleet's contribution could be changed by as much as −50% to +5% depending on the rate of fugitive CH4 emissions and efficiency of replacement gas plants.