A 21st Century Low‐Carbon Transition in U.S. Electric Power: Extent, Contributing Factors, and Implications

Murray, Brian C.; Niver, William H.

doi:10.1111/ropr.12388

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The transition of the economy involves numerous aspects of society, and among those important issues, the energy transition plays a key role. An energy transition is defined as a process whereby the composition of energy produced and used to meet human demands fundamentally changes over time (Murray and Niver, 2020). In human history, the energy transition has happened several times, for example, from human muscle power to animal power, further to mechanic power or the shift from biomass to fossil fuels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on the synergies between low-carbon pilot city policy and high-speed railways in improving Chinese urban electricity efficiency

Chen

Jin

Zhao

2022

IJCCSM

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Purpose Global climate change is a serious threat to the survival and development of mankind. Reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality are the keys to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable human development. For many countries, taking China as an example, the electric power sector is the main contributor to the country’s carbon emissions, as well as a key sector for reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. The low-carbon transition of the power sector is of great significance to the long-term low-carbon development of the economy. Therefore, on the one hand, it is necessary to improve the energy supply structure on the supply side and increase the proportion of new energy in the total power supply. On the other hand, it is necessary to improve energy utilization efficiency on the demand side and control the total primary energy consumption by improving energy efficiency, which is the most direct and effective way to reduce emissions. Improving the utilization efficiency of electric energy and realizing the low-carbon transition of the electric power industry requires synergies between the government and the market. The purpose of this study is to investigate the individual and synergistic effects of China’s low-carbon policy and the opening of urban high-speed railways (HSRs) on the urban electricity consumption efficiency, measured as electricity consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a panel of 289 Chinese prefecture-level cities from the years 1999–2019 as the sample and uses the time-varying difference-in-difference method to test the relationship between HSR, low-carbon pilot cities and urban electricity consumption efficiency. In addition, the instrumental variable method is adopted to make a robustness check. Findings Empirical results show that the low-carbon pilot policy and the HSR operation in cities would reduce the energy consumption per unit of GDP, and synergies occur in both HSR operated and low-carbon pilot cities. Research limitations/implications This study has limitations that would provide possible starting points for future studies. The first limitation is the choice of the proxy variable of government and market factors. The second limitation is that the existing data is only about whether the high-speed rail is opened or not and whether it is a low-carbon pilot city, and there is no more informative data to combine the two aspects. Practical implications The findings of this study can inform policymakers and regulators about the effects of low-carbon pilot city policies. In addition, the government should consider market-level factors in addition to policy factors. Only by combining various influencing factors can the efficient use of energy be more effectively achieved so as to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Social implications From the social perspective, the findings indicate that improving energy utilization is dependent on the joint efforts of the government and market. Originality/value The study provides quantitative evidence to assess the synergic effect between government and the market in the low-carbon transition of the electric power industry. Particularly, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to comprehend the role of the city low-carbon pilot policy and the construction of HSR in improving electricity efficiency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on the synergies between low-carbon pilot city policy and high-speed railways in improving Chinese urban electricity efficiency

Chen

Jin

Zhao

2022

IJCCSM

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“…For example, in federal states like Germany, Austria, Belgium (see Wurster and Hagemann 2020 ), and outside Europe like Canada and the US, the sub-national levels have been instrumental in fostering the diffusion of low-carbon policies (e.g. Murray and Niver 2020 ). Sub-national and local actors can more easily adapt innovations to the needs of local contexts, circumventing the limits on ‘one-size for all’ solutions (Ehnert et al.…”

Section: Energy Transition In Multilevel Systems: Between Reinforcing Dynamics and Institutional Constraintsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Italian energy transition in a multilevel system: between reinforcing dynamics and institutional constraints

Nucci

Prontera

2021

Z Politikwiss

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The article analyses drivers as well as coordination mechanisms and instruments for the energy transition in Italy from a multilevel governance perspective. It addresses the structural constraints that influenced the decision-making processes and organisation of the Italian energy sector and the socio-technical challenges opened up by enhancing renewables. The current energy system is making the move from a centralised, path-dependent institutional and organisational structure to a more fragmented and pluralistic one. Renewables and decentralised patterns of production and consumption are key elements of this paradigmatic shift, which is paralleled by a multiplication of decision-making arenas and actors. These actors follow different interests, problem understandings and green growth narratives, increasing the complexity of governing the energy transition. Against this background, community-based renewable energy policy is assuming a very important role and Italy is putting efforts to establish an enabling framework in line with the requirements of the European Union. The goal of this strategy is to foster a positive link between acceptance of the energy transition and decentralised local activities. In the conclusion we address problems and barriers to new modes of governance, and discuss possible approaches to improved cooperation.

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“…Finally, in their analysis of the United States, Murray and Niven (2020) demonstrate the complexity of energy transitions in which a central government plays no significant role. As the authors argue, economic and technological developments-"decentralized market forces and deployment of new technologies"-have largely determined the pace and direction of the energy transition in this country.…”

Section: Resistance To Energy Transitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance to Energy Transitions

Stefes

Hager

2020

Review of Policy Research

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marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Billed as a nationwide teach-in, the first Earth Day in 1970 attracted some 20 million participants and ushered in a period of groundbreaking environmental legislation in much of the industrialized world. The following decades saw the creation of a global climate regime, culminating in the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2016, which aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This year, an estimated one billion people in 192 countries took part in Earth Day activities. Yet, while the mood at the first Earth Day was hopeful, this one took place in an atmosphere of impending catastrophe. From melting polar ice caps to record-setting wildfires to locust infestations, the global effects of climate change are accelerating at an alarming rate. As the ravages of climate change become unmistakable, climate action is not accelerating apace. The Paris targets can only be met by steeply and rapidly reducing carbon emissions. This will require a global transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources within the next several decades. The enormous cost of climate inaction is becoming clear to polities all over the world. At the same time, the costs of renewable energy production have plummeted to the point where renewables are competitive with all other energy sources. The political commitment to energy transition, along with the economic arguments in its favor, should result in rapid uptake of renewable energies. Instead, were it not for the global industrial slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the key players would fail to meet their 2020 targets. The United States has announced its withdrawal from the climate regime altogether. The resolve of 2016 has melted into disarray. A rapid energy transition is not a foregone conclusion anywhere in the world. This special issue addresses domestic constraints on climate action. Specifically, we look at resistance to energy transitions. We take as our starting point the fact that major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, even the ones advocating most strongly for global climate action, have faced formidable domestic hurdles to meeting their own commitments. Our goal is to help explain why politics is not keeping up with scientific knowledge or technological developments. Incumbent industries that stand to lose from a rapid transition to renewable energy command considerable political resources. Citizens living close to wind parks express health concerns. Environmentalists face trade-offs between climate protection and landscape and wildlife preservation. Consumers fear rising energy prices. The articles in this special issue analyze the emerging, multifaceted resistance to energy transitions in a variety of political settings. All of our case studies focus on industrialized democracies, including three of

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A 21st Century Low‐Carbon Transition in U.S. Electric Power: Extent, Contributing Factors, and Implications

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

Research on the synergies between low-carbon pilot city policy and high-speed railways in improving Chinese urban electricity efficiency

Research on the synergies between low-carbon pilot city policy and high-speed railways in improving Chinese urban electricity efficiency

The Italian energy transition in a multilevel system: between reinforcing dynamics and institutional constraints

Resistance to Energy Transitions

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