Resources: Task Force on Environmental Regulation and Generation

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil and Gas: Estimation, Regulation and Control Technologies
    April, 2013
    There are no commonly agreed upon estimates of direct Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the Oil and Gas sector. The Webinar summarized the EPA regulation for estimating GHG emissions and industry experts provided a detailed explanation of where emissions originate in the production, processing and distribution of oil and gas. The webinar examined new EPA Regulations on controlling GHG emissions from the oil and gas industry. The panel also discussed additional opportunities for capturing or avoiding GHG emissions from the oil and gas sector.
    » Click here for the Webinar (wmv 70078kb)
    » Click here for the slides (pdf 4188kb)
     
  • EPA Power Sector Rules and Electric Grid Reliability: A Primer for NARUC
    February, 2012
    Dan Larcamp and Peter Glaser - Troutman Sanders LLP
    » Click here for more information (pdf 3271kb)
     

Frequently Asked Questions

  • FAQ: Consumer Benefits of Free CO2 Allowances for Utilities
    October, 2009
    Under the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), approximately 30 percent of all allowances would be allocated to regulated electric local distribution companies (LDCs) and another 9 percent to natural gas LDCs, on behalf of the customers of those utilities. Questions have arisen about how utility consumers will benefit from these no-cost LDC allowances. On behalf of the nation’s State utility regulators, NARUC offers these responses.
    » Click here for the FAQs (pdf 316kb)
     

Climate Issue Brief

  • State Commission Electricity Regulation under a Federal Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Policy
    November, 2008
    Dr. Andrew G. Keeler - John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
    Climate change policy will fundamentally affect the way that electricity is generated in the United States. A strong scientific consensus on the nature and magnitude of the challenges raised by anthropogenic climate change is the key driver of the increasing likelihood of federal policy to limit greenhouse gases (GHGs). Elected officials, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and policy analysts and scholars are increasingly in general agreement that a mandatory policy that puts explicit limits on GHGs, or puts a price on GHG emissions, is an essential component of a federal policy response. A cap-and-trade system for GHGs is the most likely policy response.
    » Click here for the report
     
  • Carbon Emissions Pricing Programs
    September, 2008
    Mark Reeder, NY DPS
    A NARUC Task Force is examining carbon cap-and-trade programs. This document represents a “first cut” on comparing the pros and cons of the following three alternatives: 1) Source-based cap-and-trade program; 2) Load-based cap-and-trade program; 3) Carbon tax.
    » Click here for more information (pdf 98kb)
     
  • EPA Analysis of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008
    September, 2008
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    On November 9, 2007 Senators Lieberman and Warner requested that EPA estimate the economic impacts of the S. 2191, the ‘Climate Security Act of 2007’ (now the ‘Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008’). This document constitutes EPA’s analysis in response to this request. The analysis is available online at: www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/economicanalyses.html
    » Click here for more information (pdf 4400kb)
     
  • State Commission Electricity Regulation Under a Federal Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Policy
    September, 2008
    Dr. Andrew Keeler
    Mandatory limits on GHGs will be a part of energy production and use for a very long time. The electric industry has begun to consider how it will navigate living with these limits. There is currently uncertainty about the timing and severity of GHG constraints on electric generation that will result from a federal program. Commissions need to understand how their mission will be affected by federal policy and to begin to craft strategies and procedures to best serve the public interest in this new environment.
    » Click here for more information (pdf 759kb)
     

Presentation

  • Dr. Andy Keeler (NRRI) Presentation on Cap & Trade from the July 23-24 Climate Policy Workshop
    August, 2008
    Dr. Andy Keeler, NRRI
    » Click here for the presentation (ppt 227kb)
     

  • Rich Cowart - Cap & Trade Programs, An Overview
    July, 2008
    Rich Cowart
    A presentation on cap and trade basics delivered at the NARUC Climate Policy workshop in July 2008, Portland OR.
    » Click here for the presentation (ppt 2136kb)