Essays in Energy and Environmental Economics

Abstract

This dissertation consists of three essays in energy and environmental economics. In Chapter 1, my coauthor and I study the impact of alternative policies on carbon emissions and electricity costs in the United States. We quantify these impacts using simulations from a detailed model of the electricity power sector. We find that only three of the ten policies can achieve deep decarbonization of the power sector by 2035 across a variety of technology cost scenarios. In Chapter 2, I study the optimal subsidy for new renewable generation. I develop new estimates for the marginal emissions rate using a power sector model. Finally, in Chapter 3, I conduct an empirical analysis of reporting behavior for point sources regulated under the Clean Water Act. I find evidence of strategic behavior in that facilities near the numeric effluent limit fail to submit required pollution reports more often than facilities far from the numeric limit.