Greenhouse gas emission control options: Assessing transportation and electricity generation technologies and policies to stabilize climate change

Prioritization of the numerous technology and policy options is an important step in formulating a cohesive strategy to abate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This work compares various options across two key sectors of the U.S. economy, electricity generation and transportation, quantifying the absolute abatement potential of each and exploring barriers each might face. Improving the efficiency of passenger vehicles is an imperative, though the long term potential can be greatly enhanced by interaction with the electric grid. In the short term, deploying all fuel economy improving technologies available for conventional vehicles could save 10 percent of U.S. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and bring fleet average fuel economy up above 35 mpg. In the long term, plug-in hybrids running on greener electricity and cellulosic ethanol could bring a 25 percent reduction. Carpooling and using available capacity in alternative modes are also winning strategies. Switching 10 percent of locally traveling single occupant vehicles to a 4 person carpool or fully occupied electric rail could save about 2 percent of U.S. emissions each while shifting 10 percent of long haul freight to rail could save about 0.5 percent.