turningthecorner-2e03878081033b40.pdf

This report analyzes ten strategies to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California, Oregon, and Washington. It concludes that implementing these measures could reduce regional emissions by 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO2e) by 2020, representing a 26% reduction compared to a base case scenario. The analysis suggests these strategies could provide a net present value (NPV) of nearly $40 billion in direct economic savings between 2005 and 2020, primarily driven by energy efficiency and light-duty vehicle standards.

• The implementation of ten specific strategies could reduce global warming pollution by 200 million metric tons by 2020, which is "26 percent below the emissions that would otherwise occur, and 1 percent below todays levels."
• Without new policies, the region's energy-related emissions are projected to rise by over 30% from 2000 to 2020, an increase of approximately 200 MMTCO2e.
• The strategies are estimated to generate nearly $40 billion in net present value (NPV) savings from 2005 to 2020, ignoring co-benefits like reduced smog.
• Light-duty vehicle (LDV) GHG emission standards are identified as the most potent single strategy, with the potential to reduce emissions by 56 MMTCO2e by 2020 and save consumers at least $6.3 billion annually by that year.
• Energy efficiency programs, codes, and standards are expected to provide the most immediate cost savings, with annual savings potentially reaching $3 billion by 2020 and totaling over $13 billion in NPV terms.
• A coordinated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targeting 33% of sales in California and 20% in Oregon and Washington by 2020 could reduce emissions by 34 MMTCO2 by 2020, representing an 18% reduction in base case electricity-related emissions.
• An electricity sector carbon policy, modeled as a cap-and-trade system with a permit price of $20/tCO2, could contribute to a 50% reduction in electricity-related GHG emissions by 2020 relative to 2000 levels when coupled with efficiency, CHP, and RPS strategies.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) initiatives could reduce emissions by 18 MMTCO2 in 2020 and provide economic benefits of over $2 billion in NPV by 2020.
• The introduction of alternative biomass-based fuels, specifically cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, is projected to be the highest cost strategy, with fuels estimated to cost over twice as much as the fossil fuels they replace on a per BTU basis.
• Vehicle travel reduction policies aiming for a 5% reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 2020 could reduce emissions by 8 MMTCO2e and provide $8 billion in NPV fuel savings.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). turningthecorner-2e03878081033b40.pdf. https://leap.sei.org/documents/turningthecorner.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. turningthecorner-2e03878081033b40.pdf. n.d. https://leap.sei.org/documents/turningthecorner.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=turningthecorner-2e03878081033b40.pdf |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/turningthecorner.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendturningthecorner2e03878081033b40pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{turningthecorner-2e03878081033b40.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/turningthecorner.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }