Modeling Impacts from EPA's Clean Power Plan and Building Block 3 for Renewable Energy

Building block 3 of the Clean Power Plan sets a target for increasing renewable generation. Using the AVERT model created by the EPA, emissions reductions can be estimated for each state. Comparing these estimates to the target rate highlights the importance of the mass- and rate-based targets. The results also highlight the usefulness of the AVERT program to study renewable energy and energy efficiency policy, and retirements and additions to the fossil fuel fleet, as well as the limitations of the AVERT model in examining the current constraints of developing renewable energy.