A Better Climate Bill

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) argues that augmenting the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) with a higher renewable electricity standard (RES) of 25% by 2025 and a 10% energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) by 2020 would reduce consumer energy costs, lower carbon allowance prices, and diversify the U.S. electric power mix. Using the National Energy Modeling System, the analysis finds that this 'RES/EERS Case' would save consumers $113 billion in electricity and natural gas expenditures through 2030 compared to the ACES Basic Case, while avoiding the need for nearly 50 new nuclear power reactors. The report concludes that these complementary policies, combined with a national carbon cap, accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy without significantly impacting GDP.

• Implementing a 25% renewable electricity standard and a 10% energy efficiency resource standard would reduce cumulative consumer electricity and natural gas expenditures by $113 billion through 2030 compared to the ACES Basic Case, with the average U.S. household saving $94 annually by 2030.
• Stronger complementary policies for renewables and efficiency would lower the price of carbon allowances under an emissions cap, reducing them by 4.4% to $61.70 per ton by 2030 compared to the $64.50 per ton projected in the ACES Basic Case.
• The proposed RES/EERS Case would significantly diversify the power mix, increasing non-hydro renewable electricity generation to 22.4% of total U.S. sales by 2030, which is a 23% increase over the ACES Basic Case.
• The adoption of higher efficiency and renewable standards would avoid the construction of nearly 50 typical 1,100 MW nuclear power reactors through 2030 relative to the ACES Basic Case, reducing risks associated with cost overruns.
• The RES/EERS Case would lead to a 32% reduction in natural gas electricity generation by 2030 compared to the Business as Usual Reference Case, and a 40% decline in coal generation by the same year.
• The proposed policy changes would have a negligible impact on the overall U.S. economy, with GDP continuing to grow at an average annual rate of 2.37%, reaching nearly $19.7 trillion by 2030.
• The RES/EERS Case increases the proportion of emission cuts within capped sectors, resulting in cumulative power plant CO2 emissions that are 805 million metric tons (2%) lower than the ACES Basic Case through 2030.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). A Better Climate Bill. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/better-climate-bill.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. A Better Climate Bill. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/better-climate-bill.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=A Better Climate Bill |date=February 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/better-climate-bill.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010better, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{A Better Climate Bill}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/better-climate-bill.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }