Vision for a Low- Carbon- Energy Future

This chapter discusses steps that could be taken to realize the long- term goal of reducing, if not eliminating, climate- altering emissions associated with the consumption of coal, oil, and natural gas. I choose to focus on initiatives that could be adopted over the next several decades to advance this objective in the United States. The key elements of the vision proposed for the United States should be applicable, however, also to China and to other large emitting countries. As indicated at the outset, the overall focus in this volume has been on the United States and China, the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, recognizing at the same time differences in states of development and national priorities of the two countries. The vision I outline here for a low- carbon-energy future for the United States should apply also to other countries. The time scale for implementation may differ, however, from country to country, depending on details of local conditions and priorities— economic, social, and environmental. The data presented in Chapter 3 (Figs. 3.1 and 3.2) provide a useful starting point— essential background— for discussion of potential future scenarios (US EIA 2015). They define how energy is used in the current US economy and the services responsible for the related emissions, with key data summarized in Table 16.1. Generation of electricity was responsible for emission of 2,050 million tons of CO2 in 2013, 1,580 million tons from combustion of coal, and 442 million tons from natural gas, with a minor contri-bution, 34.7 million tons, from oil. The residential, commercial, and industrial sectors accounted, respectively, for 38%, 36%, and 26% of emissions associated with economy-wide consumption of electricity. The power sector was responsible for 38% of total national emissions. Transportation contributed an additional 1,826 million tons, 34% of the national total. The bulk of the emissions from transportation (98%) was associated with consumption of petroleum products, gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel, with the balance from natural gas