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10th June 2020

U.S. can reach 90% clean electricity by 2035

A new report – using the latest renewable energy and storage prices – shows that with the right policies, the United States can avoid building new fossil fuel plants and increase energy sector jobs by over half a million each year, supporting recovery efforts.

 

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The United States can deliver 90% clean, carbon-free electricity nationwide by 2035, dependably, at no extra cost to consumer bills and without the need for new fossil fuel plants, according to research published yesterday by the University of California, Berkeley. The study also finds that without robust policy reforms, most of the potential to reduce emissions and increase jobs will not be realised.

2035 Report: Plummeting Solar, Wind, and Battery Costs Can Accelerate Our Clean Energy Future is the first study of its kind to show how recent cost declines for solar, wind, and battery storage can allow the U.S. to dramatically reduce generation and emissions from existing fossil power plants, while retiring coal and reducing gas generation by 70%.

The rapid buildout of additional renewable energy would inject $1.7 trillion of investment into the economy and increase energy sector jobs by up to 530,000 each year through 2035 – across all regions of the U.S. – without raising consumer bills. Delivering 90% clean electricity by 2035 also avoids an estimated $1.2 trillion in environmental and health costs through 2050, by reducing air pollution and the impact of carbon emissions.

The 2035 time frame for near-complete decarbonisation of the power sector is significant, because that is 15 years earlier than projected in most state and national policy proposals, which provide little hope that the worst climate change impacts can be avoided. In October 2018, the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that the world had only 12 years to halve emissions in order to limit warming to 1.5°C. By 2030, the report finds the U.S. could reach over 70% clean electricity, reducing U.S. economy-wide emissions by 18%. Up to 85,000 unnecessary premature deaths associated with air pollution from power plants in the U.S. could be avoided through 2050 by reaching a 90% carbon-free electric generation sector by 2035, which would reduce emissions 27%.

 

clean electricity 2035 future timeline

 

The target year of 2035 allows sufficient time for most coal and gas plants to recover their fixed costs, thereby avoiding the risk of stranded costs for consumers and investors, if the right policies are put in place. Wind, solar, and battery storage can provide the bulk of the 90% clean electricity. The report finds that new fossil fuel generators are not needed. Existing gas plants, used infrequently and combined with storage, hydropower, and nuclear power are sufficient to meet demand during periods of extraordinarily low renewable energy generation or exceptionally high electricity demand. Power generation from natural gas plants would drop by 70% in 2035 compared to 2019.

"Cost reductions in clean technology have occurred much faster than anticipated just a few years ago," said Dr. Amol Phadke, Senior Scientist and affiliate at UC Berkeley's Center for Environmental Public Policy. "This is the first report to integrate the latest low prices for renewable energy and storage and shows it is technically and economically feasible to deliver 90% carbon-free electricity on the U.S. power grid by 2035."

"We're talking about the ability to achieve near-100% clean electricity by 2035, in half the time most people are talking about," said David Wooley, professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Public Policy. "This is exciting, because the 2035 timeframe is actually compatible with climate realities. However, this outcome isn't possible without strong policy changes – and our hope is this report can help inform the dialogue on federal, state, and corporate policies needed to achieve it."

The 2035 Report's release is accompanied by a set of policy recommendations to realise the jobs and economic benefits envisioned here from nonpartisan policy firm Energy Innovation. The memo's primary policy recommendation is establishing a technology-neutral national clean energy standard targeting 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2045. Additional recommendations include complementary policies that support clean energy deployment, address wholesale market failures, remake utility grid regulation, and ensure an equitable and fair energy transition for impacted communities.

"What an incredible opportunity for economic stimulus," said Sonia Aggarwal, Vice President at Energy Innovation. "A federal clean energy standard, supported by government investments in deployment and American manufacturing, could put us back on track for a healthier economy. Meanwhile, continued policy leadership from the states can bolster progress."

 

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