[MCN] I have pdf: Even at early stage, wind & solar deliver health and climate benefits

[Lance Olsen]

Nature Energy - Published online August 14 2017

The climate and air-quality benefits of wind and solar power in the United States
Dev Millstein*, Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger and Galen Barbosa

Abstract

Wind and solar energy reduce combustion-based electricity generation and provide air-quality and greenhouse gas emission benefits. These benefits vary dramatically by region and over time. From 2007 to 2015, solar and wind power deployment increased rapidly while regulatory changes and fossil fuel price changes led to steep cuts in overall power-sector emissions. Here we evaluate how wind and solar climate and air-quality benefits evolved during this time period. We find cumulative wind and solar air-quality benefits of 2015 US$29.7–112.8 billion mostly from 3,000 to 12,700 avoided premature mortalities, and cumulative climate benefits of 2015 US$5.3–106.8 billion. The ranges span results across a suite of air-quality and health impact models and social cost of carbon estimates. We find that binding cap-and-trade pollutant markets may reduce these cumulative benefits by up to 16%. In 2015, based on central estimates, combined marginal benefits equal 7.3 ¢ kWh 1 (wind) and4.0¢kWh 1 (solar).

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“The ecological systems upon which humans rely for life support are in crisis, and 
human behavior is the root cause. These problems are thus not environmental, 
but rather related to how humans meet their needs and wants in disruptive ways.”
 
Elise Amel, Christie Manning, Britain Scott, Susan Koger
Science 21 April 2017

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