1 resultado para Description
em Iowa Publications Online (IPO) - State Library, State of Iowa (Iowa), United States
Resumo:
Likemanystates,Iowafacessignificantchallengesontheenergyfront.Energypriceshave surgedinrecentyearstorecordlevelsbeforedecliningprecipitouslyfollowingthefinancial crisisthatbrokeinSeptember2008.Despitethispullback,thefundamentalsthatcontributedto higherenergypricesareexpectedtoreturnonceeconomiesrebound.Oilpriceshavegoneup onincreaseddemand,driveninlargepartbydevelopingcountriessuchasChinaandIndia, whoseeconomieshavebeenrapidlyexpanding.Naturalgaspriceshavealsofluctuated dramatically,tradinginarangefrom$4.50to$13.00/MMBtuoverthepastyear,butareunlikely toremainatlowlevelsoverthelongterm.Asshowninouranalysislateroninthisreport,the differenceinlevelizedcostofelectricityfromagasfiredcombinedcycleplantcanvary significantlydependingonthefuelcost. Dependenceonothersforenergysupplyinvolvessignificantrisksanduncertainties.Thus,if IowawishestoreduceitsdependenceonothersorevenachieveenergyindependenceIowa needstopursueactionsonanumbersoffronts.Followingthestatusquoisnotanoption. AcarbontaxwouldchangetheenergylandscapeinIowa.SinceIowaiscurrently75% dependentoncoal,acarbontaxcouldmeanthatgenerators,andinturnratepayers,couldbeon thehookforhigherelectricityprices,thoughitremainstobeseenexactlywhatthetaxscheme willbe.Inadditiontoexistingplants,acarbontaxwouldalsohaveasignificantimpactonthe costofnewgenerationplant.Wehavemodeledcarbontaxesrangingfrom$050/toninour analysisintheAppendix.However,ifamoreaggressivecarbonpolicycameintoplayresulting inmarketvaluesofforexample,$100/tonoreven$200/ton,thenthatcouldraisethecostofcoal andgasfiredgenerationsignificantly,makingalternativessuchaswindmoreeconomical.
