Articles & Media
Browse our library of research and analysis here.
What are the facts about the Climate Commitment Act?
As the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) moves to implementation, many Washingtonians have questions about what it does and how it works. Policy experts from our research team at the Low Carbon Prosperity Institute (LCPI) along with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) wrote the definitive Policy Brief, published for...
Climate Commitment Act Cost Estimate from Oil Industry Not Grounded in Reality
Recently WSPA retained a NERA Economic Associate Director to predict allowance prices, household costs, and energy-intensive sector output impacts for the Climate Commitment Act. No model should be treated as usefully predictive when it does not provide sufficient detail of the methodology and assumptions. This analysis is far from meeting...
Technical Memo: The Climate Commitment Act delivers jobs and reduces pollution
Kevin Tempest, Low Carbon Prosperity Institute
This technical memo presents modelled jobs and other benefits from investments through 2030 that could be catalyzed by revenue from Substitute Senate Bill 5126 (SB5126), the Climate Commitment Act. In this technical memo, I describe methodology, modelling, and revenue and investment results.
I consider...
Part 2: Revisiting the Key Findings of an influential Carbon Trading and Environmental Equity Study – Additional Details
In Part 1, I revisited some of the key findings from the influential study by Lara Cushing and Rachel Morello-Frosch et al. (Carbon trading, co-pollutants, and environmental equity: Evidence from California’s cap-and-trade program (2011-2015)) In this Part 2, I provide some extended details on...
Part 1: Revisiting the Key Findings of a California Carbon Market and Environmental Equity Study
Likely the most widely-cited and influential analysis of California’s pollution-equity trends in the first several years of its Cap-and-Invest program is a 2018 paper led by Lara Cushing and Rachel Morello-Frosch titled Carbon trading, co-pollutants, and environmental equity: Evidence from California’s cap-and-trade program (2011-2015).
This paper asks...
3rd Annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum
3rd Annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum
Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 3:00 PM – 5:15 PM PST
With the election results coming into focus, states will continue to be sources of leadership on carbon policy. What does the future hold for Washington State?
Join us on November...
Webinar: Building Back Better: Investing in a Resilient Recovery for Washington State
LCPI Webinar:
Building Back Better:
Investing in a Resilient Recovery for Washington State
July 9, 2020
In this webinar, we discussed the newly released report, Building Back Better: Investing in a Resilient Recovery for Washington State. The report analyzes the potential jobs and community health benefits...
2020 Legislative Session Report on Cap & Invest
Legislature Sets Stage for Ambitious 2021
During the short 60 day session, the Washington State Legislature made critical strides to reboot a conversation on the value of comprehensive carbon policy. As the session ended last week, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, legislators laid the necessary groundwork and left...
COVID-19 Shutdown: OVERREACTION or GOOD CALL?
Answer: GOOD CALL, HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN
We’re learning COVID-19 is far from “just a flu.” If you’re done hearing about its seriousness, read on; if you want a quick summary, read this footnote.
Our greatest risk is overwhelming our already heavily-loaded health care system, especially hospitals. When...
Poll: Washington Voters Support Aligned Action on Transportation and Climate
Washingtonians overwhelmingly see climate change as real, urgent, and requiring strong, comprehensive action. According to new poll results, more than three-quarters of voters believe we cannot rely on Washington, DC to solve climate change, and nearly 70% of voters believe that climate change is a major threat to our health...
Press Release: Supreme Court Sets the Stage for Legislative Action on System-Wide Carbon Reductions
Legislature expected to continue progress on comprehensive Cap & Invest bill.
Seattle, WA – January 16, 2020 – Today’s Supreme Court ruling restricting the Department of Ecology’s authority to cap greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) creates a patchwork of regulations that are at odds with effective carbon reduction policy. The...
2nd Annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum
2nd Annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum
December 12, 2019
The 2nd Annual Future of Carbon Policy Forum brought together over 100 participants to build momentum and collaboration in achieving carbon reduction goals in the state.
- Eight presenters, each well versed in goals, strategies and major pathways provided...
BioSequestration Policy Pathways
BioSequestration Policy Pathways
A policy research and evaluation effort led by:
The Low Carbon Prosperity Institute
Our Operating Framework
Climate change is real, caused mostly by combusting fossil fuels
It’s a crisis –
Risk to our health, way of life, and economy
IPCC: we only have 10...
Webinar Q&A: Banking of Excess Carbon Permits
LCPI Webinar Series:
Cap & Invest in Washington State
Webinar Q&A: Introduction to Cap & Invest in Washington State
Is banking of allowances incompatible with the objective to reduce emissions? Is banking of excess carbon permits a necessary and fundamental feature of cap & trade approaches?
Shorter Answer
Webinar Q&A: RGGI GHG reduction
LCPI Webinar Series:
Cap & Invest in Washington State
Webinar Q&A: Introduction to Cap & Invest in Washington State
Is it true that RGGI GHG reduction stalled during the Great Recession because need for energy declined and there was no political will to reduce the cap?
Shorter answer
Webinar Q&A: California’s Cap & Trade Program
LCPI Webinar Series:
Cap & Invest in Washington State
Webinar Q&A: Introduction to Cap & Invest in Washington State
Is it true that California’s Cap & Trade program does not address transportation emissions?
Shorter Answer
False. Transportation emissions can be more costly to reduce than other sectors at...
Webinar Q&A: Is Cap and Trade better than a Carbon Fee?
LCPI Webinar Series:
Cap & Invest in Washington State
Webinar Q&A: Introduction to Cap & Invest in Washington State
Why is a cap approach better than a carbon fee, especially an accelerating fee?
Corollary Questions:
Webinar: 100% Clean Power: What it Means for Business
This webinar covers the emerging details of the House and Senate 100% greenhouse gas free power policies, and presents findings from our own modeling of the anticipated carbon reduction and cost impacts from these policies taking effect. Important distinctions between different utilities are explored. We also reviewed a recently introduced...
Analysis of 100% Clean Bill (SB 5116) Cost Cap
This updated Low Carbon Prosperity Institute (LCPI) analysis examines the rate impacts of eliminating coal power, achieving an 80% clean energy standard by the year 2030, and a 100% clean energy standard by the year 2045. LCPI relies on a variety of sources, and deploys its own utility-specific model....
UPDATED: Effect on GHG Emissions and Rates from 100% Clean Power
This updated Low Carbon Prosperity Institute (LCPI) analysis examines the rate impacts of eliminating coal power, achieving an 80% clean energy standard by the year 2030, and a 100% clean energy standard by the year 2045. LCPI relies on a variety of sources, and deploys its own utility-specific model....
Analysis: Cost and Rate Impact of 100% Clean Energy
This analysis examines the rate impacts of eliminating coal power, achieving an 80% clean energy standard by the year 2030, and a 100% clean energy standard by the year 2045. LCPI relies on a variety of sources, and deploys its own utility-specific model.
...Kalama Methanol Plant – Review of Greenhouse Gas Impact Assessments
Click Following Link For Full Report
LCPI_KMMEF_GHG_Analysis_12-13_FullReport
Kalama Methanol Plant Offers Strong Prospects for Net Global Greenhouse Gas Reduction Benefits
Analysis published by the Low Carbon Prosperity Institute shows new industrial facilities can play important role in a low-carbon future.
...Visualizing cost-managed approaches to reducing WA emissions
To date, there is no Washington Specific MAC Curve that provides more than a cursory glance at carbon reduction measures specific to our state. The Low Carbon Prosperity Institute (LCPI) has decided that the time has come to undertake a more comprehensive, statewide look at MAC opportunities in our...
Review of Climate Policy Options
Evaluating regulations, subsidies, pricing mechanisms, and hybrid policies
Abstract:
There is a growing recognition among businesses, policymakers, and the general public regarding the economic and societal risks of climate change. The latest, most urgent call to action from the IPCC has increased attention on policies to reduce...
LCPI Event: The Future of Climate Policy After I-1631
Wed, November 28, 2018, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST | Mercer Island Community & Event Center
Purpose: Inform community about views of electorate, Resolve post-election tensions & align towards cooperative success, Invite engagement in achieving desired outcomes, Set framework for 2019 legislature
...The prospects for I-1631 eliminating 20 million tons of carbon pollution annually by 2035
This analysis aims to answer the following central question: What cost-performance must I-1631 investments in carbon reduction achieve in order to meet the state’s 2035 emissions target and trigger a freeze in the rate of fee increase?
...Appendix A: Initiative 1631 Funding to Offset Increases In Lower Income Energy Burdens
To project the potential for revenue to be used for relieving the energy burden of people with lower incomes LCPI examined data on median household income by county (American Community Survey (ACS), 2016) and the share by county of income to poverty levels (also from the ACS, 2016). By...
Appendix B: Initiative 1631 Detailed Scenario Results
In this Appendix, we present detailed projections for the two available funds scenarios, each with four investment pathway cases that were the focus of this study.
...Volcanoes, Forests, and Farms: A Carbon Policy That Works for Washington—and Puts All of Washington to Work
We absolutely must sequester carbon on a large scale, and this technology is one of several with the potential to implement Plan B — carbon negativity. Washington is possibly the best region in the world do to so economically. The combination of Washington’s biomass-producing industries and unique geologic formations...
Wasted energy: Increasing efficiency can reverse a major drag on Washington’s prosperity
Low Carbon Prosperity Institute (LCPI) analysis indicates that Washingtonians spent over $24 billion on energy in 2015 - down from nearly $28 billion in 2014 - with nearly 60% ($13 billion) spent on wasted energy. Efficiency gains are an opportunity to generate immediate economic benefit and foster a clean...