Curbing Acid Rain: Allocating Sulfur Dioxide Control Costs Under an Emissions Control Program PDF Download

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Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
For many proponents of legislation to control acid rain, a key issue is how to allocate the clean-up costs. Particular concern focuses on the costs of controlling emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), a key source of the problem. Roughly two-thirds of the nation's SO(2) emissions come from electric power plants, so control measures tend to concentrate on these sources. Though acid rain affects a broad region--much of the eastern half of the nation- the suspected origin lies largely in the Midwest, the site of many older power plants burning coal with a moderate to high sulfur content. Two questions therefore are central to the debate: Should parties responsible for the emissions (the Midwestern states and electricity consumers in them) pay the entire cost of the clean-up? Or, on the other hand, Should clean-up costs be spread more evenly throughout the region affected, since it is the entire region that would enjoy the benefits of curbed SO(2) emissions?