The Comparison

In 2009, the Obama administration announced a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 83% by 2050, relative to 2005 level. Reichelstein and Comello’s Early Adoption of Carbon Capture plan would cut emissions from electricity production by 84% once old plants are retired. Here’s how it stacks up against today’s figures.

Power Plant CO2 Emissions per Megawatt Hour of Electricity Produced

• Early Adoption of Carbon Capture Plan - 80kg
• Without Carbon Capture - 360kg (natural gas fired)/720kg (coal fired)

Cost of Producing 1 Kilowatt Hour of Electricity

• Early Adoption of Carbon Capture Plan - 7.8 cents
• Without Carbon Capture - 6.6 cents

Projected Cumulative CO2 Emissions of New Deployments, 2017-2027

• Early Adoption of Carbon Capture Plan - 16 million metric tons
• Without Carbon Capture - 70 million metric tons