Voluntary emissions reduction goals among IOUs may have the potential to take a bite out of utilities’ own carbon contributions, but the impact will be relatively small on emissions as a whole, according to EIA’s analysis.
The new report builds on previous research projecting current progress on carbon emissions by estimating the reductions associated with goals and plans publicly announced by IOUs in the U.S. Assuming the utilities achieve their goals as advertised, the report concludes their voluntary efforts will result in an additional 11.6% decrease in carbon emissions from the electric sector, compared to the current trajectory created by existing policies and market forces. However, this reduction only amounts to a 2.9% decrease in total U.S. emissions, according to EIA.
