A warmer, drier world could complicate efforts to eliminate carbon emissions from electricity generation in the Western U.S., analysis from Stanford University says.
Based on weather, generation and emissions data from 2001-2021, extreme drought conditions can significantly increase carbon emissions from gas- and coal-fired power plants brought online to cope with losses from underperforming hydroelectric plants, according to the analysis.
The interconnected nature of Western utilities means many of these emissions occur outside the region directly impacted by any given drought; excess mortality and other costs associated with these drought-induced emissions could be 1.2-2.5 times higher than the reported direct economic costs from lost hydropower generation, the study says.
