One of the simplest ways to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is to become more energy efficient, which reduces the use of energy before emissions occur. Using renewable energy can also help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, and there is a growing movement towards renewable energy like solar power in the Southeast. The Georgia Climate Project Roadmap addresses this in this week’s question, which encourages research to determine the best strategies for taking on these challenges and also to determine what targets are appropriate to aim for. You can read all of the Roadmap questions at https://roadmap.georgiaclimateproject.org/.
24. What are the optimal strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy at state and regional levels in Georgia, and what are appropriate targets that correspond to these strategies?
Why this question is important: The energy sector is a key contributor to GHG emissions and accordingly is a considerable source for potential emissions reductions. Several states and municipalities across the United States have established targets for deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency (e.g., NC Clean Energy Technology Center 2017). Any future consideration of such targets in Georgia can be informed by a thorough technical and economic analysis to better understand least-cost strategies. This work could be undertaken either as part of a comprehensive assessment of statewide GHG reduction options (such as that outlined in question 39) or as a stand-alone exercise, such as that undertaken by North Carolina in 2006 (North Carolina Utilities Commission 2006). Both efficiency and renewable energy policies may have co-benefits that may not be fully and clearly accounted for in the absence of a comprehensive assessment.
