Study: Replacing Fossil Fuels in US Could Cost $4.7 Trillion

Study: Replacing Fossil Fuels in US Could Cost $4.7 Trillion

A new study has found that replacing fossil fuel power systems in the United States could cost up to $4.7 trillion.

The study was released by energy research company Wood Mackenzie. The company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The report includes one of the first independent cost estimates for completely ending power sources that produce carbon pollution.

Some American politicians support the complete replacement¹ of all fossil fuel-based energy sources in the United States with zero carbon systems. The study estimates this could cost at least $4.7 trillion and could present major economic and social difficulties. The total would amount to about $35,000 per U.S. household, the study found.

Several Democratic presidential candidates have proposed their own plans to reach the goal of zero carbon emissions³. Former Vice⁴ President Joe Biden has said his plan would cost about $1.7 trillion. Another candidate, Beto O’Rourke, has proposed a $5-trillion plan to get to zero emissions.

Democratic U.S. House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York, helped create a “Green New Deal” proposal that seeks to solve several major environmental issues. It has been estimated to cost around $10 trillion.

Such ideas seek to appeal to a growing sense of urgency about climate change on both sides of the political divide. But many Republicans, including President Donald Trump⁵, have criticized the Democratic proposals as being costly⁶ and impossible to carry out. They say the plans would harm the economy.

A public opinion study released last week by Reuters/Ipsos showed that most Americans support "aggressive" climate change action like that proposed by Democrats⁷. But that support falls sharply if individuals sense the plans would personally cost them.

Wood Mackenzie’s report centers only on the costs to replace fossil fuel sources used to generate power. One of the main fossil fuel sources for U.S. power plants is coal. Coal plants give off air pollutants⁸ and heat-trapping gases that have been linked to climate change.

The study said the change from fossil fuels to green sources would require “a complete redesign” of the current power system.

It estimated that 1,600 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity would have to be added, at a cost of around $1.5 trillion. That is more than 11 times the nation’s current wind and solar capacity. Even though the costs of wind and solar have been dropping, a sharp increase in demand could drive prices up, the study noted⁹.

The report estimated that more than 320,000 kilometers of electrical wires would have to be added to carry wind and solar energy from rural areas to major cities. The estimated cost for that effort would be about $700 billion.

The study noted that major costs could be reduced if the process of completely moving away from fossil fuel sources took place over a longer period of time.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

fossil fuel – n. a fuel, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

source – n. where something comes from

emission² – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

capacity – n. the largest amount of something that can be held in a container, building, etc.

1 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

2 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。