Home - CEEPR CEEPR

When “Low-Hanging Fruit” Are Beyond Reach: Management Practices and Firm Energy Efficiency

Research shows that firms with sophisticated management systems are on average found to have better economic performance as well as superior social performance. But do structured management practices help firms benefit from an energy efficiency intervention designed to improve both economic and environmental performance? A new Working Paper uses an experiment to answer this question.

Deregulation, Market Power, and Prices: Evidence from the Electricity Sector

A new Working Paper uses a detailed dataset on electricity transactions to investigate the impact of market-based deregulation in the context of the U.S. electricity sector. The introduction of market competition has an important tradeoff: market-based prices can provide incentives to allocate resources more efficiently and reduce costs, but the presence of market power may lead to increased prices for consumers.

Electricity Sector Policy Reforms to Support Efficient Decarbonization

Storage technologies, if efficiently deployed and utilized, can play an important role in maintaining system reliability and controlling system costs in the face of generation intermittency. A new Working Paper considers how alternative regulatory rules and policy regimes will affect the ability of storage to contribute to reliable, cost-effective, and equitable power system and economy-wide decarbonization.

Coping with National Fuel Subsidies in Regional Power Markets

Fuel subsidies for fossil generators persist in different electricity markets across five continents. In light of the current European energy crisis, this practice is regaining momentum, as may be the preferred emergency measure to limit the impact of high electricity prices on local demand. In a new Working Paper, the authors propose an innovative bidding format and a slight modification of the regional market clearing algorithm to mitigate a significant portion of the negative impact of the implementation of these subsidies.

Technology Neutral vs. Technology Specific Procurement

Auctions are increasingly being used to procure renewable energy capacity. How should these auctions be designed? Should regulators use a single technology-neutral auction, separate technology-specific auctions, or a hybrid design? And why or when should regulators resort to auctions instead of price posting? Since these choices involve a clear trade-off between efficiency and rent extraction, a new CEEPR Working Paper finds that one size does not fit all.

June 15, 2022

Dianne Feinstein: Why I changed my mind about California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant

As national debate over nuclear power’s future continues, there are signs that the movement to keep plants open is making some gains. Recently California governor Gavin Newsom discussed potentially delaying the closure of the Diablo Canyon facility, and in this op-ed in the Sacramento Bee, US Senator Feinstein cites a joint Stanford-MIT study that CEEPR Associate Director John Parsons was heavily involved in as one of the key reasons why she now supports extending its operating life.

Learn More

June 14, 2022

Why Gas Prices Are So High

Gas prices in the United States are at record highs. And even when adjusting for inflation, they are on average at levels rarely seen in the last 50 years. In an article on The New York Times discussing how international oil markets and the war in Ukraine are affecting gasoline prices, CEEPR Director Christopher Knittel provides some insight on why the US is producing less oil.

Learn More

June 8, 2022

Join the CATE team from June 27-29, 2022 for a Climate Education Professional Development event

At this in-person on the MIT Campus, Massachusetts high school teachers in English, History, Math, and Science are welcome to apply. Participating teachers will receive a $350 stipend and 10 PDPs. The event will feature exciting opportunities to review and provide feedback for CATE’s innovative curriculum, networking, presentations from MIT professors and staff, and food will be provided. Apply here by June 20, 2022.

Learn More

SEE MORE NEWS

The Roosevelt Project

The Roosevelt Project takes a multidisciplinary approach to examine the transitional challenges associated with progress toward a deeply decarbonized U.S. economy. The project aims to chart a path forward through the transition that minimizes worker and community dislocations and enables at-risk communities to sustain employment levels by taking advantage of the economic opportunities present for regional economic development.

Learn More

The CATE Project

The Climate Action Through Education Project aims to develop a science-based climate curriculum for U.S high school students, placing particular emphasis on reaching populations who are underserved and on countering climate denial messages. The curriculum will inform students about the causes and consequences of anthropogenic climate change, while equipping them with the knowledge and sense of agency to contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation.

Learn More

The E2e Project

Through an interdisciplinary approach to the so-called ‘energy efficiency gap’, the E2e Project seeks to evaluate and strengthen policies and incentives for improved energy efficiency. Proven research designs used to achieve these aims include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs, with data and customer access provided through formal partnerships with private-sector companies.

Learn More

SEE MORE PAPERS AND RESEARCH CONTENT