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How Effective Are US Renewable Energy Subsidies in Cutting Greenhouse Gases?

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Listed:
  • Brian C. Murray
  • Maureen L. Cropper
  • Francisco C. de la Chesnaye
  • John M. Reilly

Abstract

The federal tax code provides preferential treatment for the production and use of renewable energy. We report estimates of the subsidies' effects on greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions developed in a recent National Research Council (NRC) Report. Due to lack of estimates of the impact of tax provisions on GHG emissions, new modeling studies were commissioned. The studies found, at best, a small impact of subsidies in reducing GHG emissions; in some cases, emissions increased. The NRC report also identified the need to capture the complex interactions among subsidies, pre-existing regulations, and commodity markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian C. Murray & Maureen L. Cropper & Francisco C. de la Chesnaye & John M. Reilly, 2014. "How Effective Are US Renewable Energy Subsidies in Cutting Greenhouse Gases?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(5), pages 569-574, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:104:y:2014:i:5:p:569-74
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.104.5.569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Dongyang & Kong, Qunxi, 2022. "Renewable energy policy, green investment, and sustainability of energy firms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 118-133.
    2. Olivier De Groote & Frank Verboven, 2016. "Subsidies and myopia in technology adoption: evidence from solar photovoltaic systems," Working Papers of Department of Economics, Leuven 547933, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Economics, Leuven.
    3. Olivier De Groote & Frank Verboven, 2019. "Subsidies and Time Discounting in New Technology Adoption: Evidence from Solar Photovoltaic Systems," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(6), pages 2137-2172, June.
    4. Yang, Dong-xiao & Chen, Zi-yue & Nie, Pu-yan, 2016. "Output subsidy of renewable energy power industry under asymmetric information," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(P1), pages 291-299.
    5. Brian C. Murray & William H. Niver, 2020. "A 21st Century Low‐Carbon Transition in U.S. Electric Power: Extent, Contributing Factors, and Implications," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 37(3), pages 412-438, May.
    6. Qiuyun Zhao & Zeyu Li & Zuoxiang Zhao & Jinqiu Ma, 2019. "Industrial Policy and Innovation Capability of Strategic Emerging Industries: Empirical Evidence from Chinese New Energy Vehicle Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Jie Mao & Chunhua Wang, 2016. "Tax incentives and environmental protection: evidence from China’s taxpayer-level data," China Finance and Economic Review, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-30, December.
    8. Jan Goebel & Christian Krekel & Tim Tiefenbach & Nicolas Ziebarth, 2015. "How natural disasters can affect environmental concerns, risk aversion, and even politics: evidence from Fukushima and three European countries," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 28(4), pages 1137-1180, October.
    9. Li, Kai & Yan, Yaxue & Zhang, Xiaoling, 2021. "Carbon-abatement policies, investment preferences, and directed technological change: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    10. Tol, Richard S.J., 2017. "The structure of the climate debate," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 431-438.
    11. Nori Tarui, 2017. "Electric utility regulation under enhanced renewable energy integration and distributed generation," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 19(3), pages 503-518, July.
    12. Zhishuang Zhu & Hua Liao, 2019. "Do subsidies improve the financial performance of renewable energy companies? Evidence from China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 95(1), pages 241-256, January.
    13. Jan Goebel & Christian Krekel & Tim Tiefenbach & Nicholas R. Ziebarth, 2014. "Natural Disaster, Environmental Concerns, Well-Being and Policy Action," CINCH Working Paper Series 1405, Universitaet Duisburg-Essen, Competent in Competition and Health.
    14. Yayun Shen & Michael Faure, 0. "Green building in China," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-17.
    15. Qian Cai & Zheng Ji & Fuxun Ma & Han Liang, 2023. "The Green Effects of Industrial Policy—Evidence from China’s New Energy Vehicle Subsidies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Sun, Xiaohua & Liu, Xiaoling & Wang, Yun & Yuan, Fang, 2019. "The effects of public subsidies on emerging industry: An agent-based model of the electric vehicle industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 281-295.
    17. Wenwen Zhang & Shichun Xu & Zhengxia He & Basil Sharp & Bin Zhao & Shuxiao Wang, 2019. "Impacts of U.S. Carbon Tariffs on China’s Foreign Trade and Social Welfare," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
    18. Meng-Shiuh Chang & Chih-Chun Kung, 2018. "The greenhouse gas impact of bioenergy in developing economies: Evidence from Taiwan," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(3), pages 315-332, May.
    19. Acevedo, Giancarlo & Bernales, Alejandro & Flores, Andrés & Inzunza, Andrés & Moreno, Rodrigo, 2021. "The effect of environmental policies on risk reductions in energy generation," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    20. Yayun Shen & Michael Faure, 2021. "Green building in China," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 183-199, June.
    21. Miao, Ruiqing & Khanna, Madhu, 2015. "Costs of Meeting the Cellulosic Biofuel Mandate with an Energy Crop with Establishment Cost and Yield Risk: Implications for Policy," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212458, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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