Details

Contact: Carl Pasurka, 202-566-2275

Presenter: Kyle Meng (Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara)

Description: Addressing climate change requires transitioning away from coal-based energy. Recent structural change models demonstrate that temporary interventions could induce permanent fuel switching when transitional dynamics exhibit strong path dependence. Exploiting changes in local coal supply driven by subsurface coal accessibility, I find that transitory shocks have strengthening effects on the fuel composition of two subsequent generations of U.S. electricity capital. To facilitate a structural interpretation, I develop a model which informs: tests that find scale effects as the relevant mechanism; recovery of the elasticity of substitution between coal and non-coal electricity; and simulations of future carbon emissions following temporary interventions.

EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE) will host our next Climate Economics seminar on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 2:00 PM in Room 4128 William Jefferson Clinton West (formerly EPA West). The seminar will be 90 minutes in length.  Detailed information is provided below.  Our office is located in William Jefferson Clinton West (1301 Constitution Ave., NW, corner of 14th St. and Constitution Ave.).  If you do not have an EPA ID and wish to attend a seminar please contact Carl Pasurka to obtain access to the building.  Questions?  Contact Carl Pasurka (202-566-2275).  If you have questions the day of the seminar, contact Carl Pasurka at 202-566-2275.

NOTE to non-EPA attendees:  EPA Security requires ALL non-EPA (federal and non-federal) visitors have a contact name and phone number in order to enter EPA West.  As a result, contact me if you plan to attend a seminar.  I recommend non-EPA attendees bring their cell phones and my phone number in case problems arise the day of the seminar.

A teleconference connection (only audio) can be established for this seminar. If you are interested, send me an e-mail message.  If you need to contact me within 30 minutes of the start of the seminar, call me at (202) 566-2275.