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ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

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Figure 7-23<br />

Decomposition of Emission Reductions from Power<br />

Sector, 2008–2015<br />

Million Metric Tons<br />

2,500<br />

2,400<br />

Counterfactual - Total<br />

Power Sector<br />

2015<br />

2,300<br />

2,200<br />

2,100<br />

2,000<br />

Actual - Total Power<br />

Sector<br />

Reduction from Increased Zero-<br />

Carbon Generation<br />

Reduction from Cleaner<br />

Fossil-Fuel Generation<br />

1,900<br />

1,800<br />

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015<br />

Source: Energy Information Administration; CEA Calculations.<br />

electricity generation would then represent the total avoided emissions from<br />

changes in the carbon intensity of the entire electricity portfolio. By subtracting<br />

total avoided emissions attributed to reduced carbon intensity from<br />

fossil fuel resources calculated as described above, the remaining difference<br />

between actual and counterfactual emissions can be attributed to an increase<br />

in resources with zero-carbon footprints; that is, an increase in the share of<br />

renewable energy resources.32 For 2015, 284 million metric tons (MMT) (66<br />

percent) of 428 MMT total avoided emissions was due to reduced carbon<br />

intensity from lower-carbon fossil resources, leaving 144 MMT (34 percent)<br />

attributable to increased generation from renewables. Figure 7-23 shows this<br />

decomposition from 2008 to 2015.<br />

Decomposition of the Unexpected and Total Declines in Emissions<br />

This section summarizes overall contributions to the observed emissions<br />

decline by decomposing reductions into those attributable to lower<br />

energy intensity, lower carbon intensity, and the difference from projections<br />

32 While this could include increased generation from nuclear power, the EIA shows that<br />

net generation from nuclear power remained fairly constant over the period, with an overall<br />

reduction in 2015 compared to 2008. Year-to-year fluctuations in nuclear or hydro power<br />

can affect annual changes in the contribution of non-carbon energy, but the overall result of<br />

significant contribution from non-hydro renewables over time is not altered by these sources,<br />

as both hydro and nuclear power saw small declines over the 2008-15 window.<br />

466 | Chapter 7

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