Environmentally beneficial electrification: The dawn of 'emissions efficiency

摘要

The nature of the electricity grid is changing dramatically, as are our nation's environmental goals, so our policy thinking needs to change profoundly, too. Mounting research suggests that aggressive electrification of energy end uses – such as space heating, water heating, and transportation – is needed if the United States and the world are to achieve ambitious emission reduction goals for carbon dioxide. This concept, the electrifica- tion of energy end uses that have been powered by fossil fuels (natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, or fuel oil) in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is called "environmentally beneficial electrification."