EPA study confirms comprehensive climate and energy legislation is affordable, equitable, and effective

Natural Resources Defense Council staff blog
Posted June 15, 2010 in Solving Global Warming

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an analysis today of the economic impact of the American Power Act (APA), released by Senators Kerry and Lieberman mid-May. The study finds that climate protection is very affordable. For a modest investment the APA would anchor a global effort that could dramatically reduce the risk of catastrophic global warming.

The study includes estimates of what it calls “household costs.” I prefer to call these “investment costs,” since we expect benefits from climate protection.

EPA finds that American households would need to invest on average $79 to $146 per year (51 to 95 cents per day) through 2050 for climate protection. At the same time, the results indicate that, on average, median household income will be $4,893 to $6,497 higher than today’s levels.

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