June 28, 2002—A new report by the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) titled, “Environmental Challenges and Opportunities of the Evolving North American Electricity Market,” explores the environmental challenges and opportunities of the evolving North American electricity sector.
The report found, for instance, that North American power plants reported the largest toxic releases in 1999 among all reporting industrial sectors—more than 500,000 tons of pollutants to air, land, and water. In the United States, the electricity sector is responsible for 25 percent of emissions to air of nitrogen oxides, 70 percent of sulfur dioxide, 25 percent of mercury, and 35 percent of carbon dioxide.
Because of these impacts, there is increasing focus on power projects planned near international borders that can affect the well-being of the public and the environment in neighboring countries.
While the advisory board recognizes an integrated North American electricity market means potential benefits in terms of affordable and reliable power, it calls upon NAFTA partners to support:
- Safety nets to protect human and ecosystem health in North America as the electricity market integrates;
- Greater public access to improved information on pollutants emitted by power plants, facility siting criteria, and differences in cross-border environmental standards;
- Greater North American cooperation in assessing the environmental impacts on air, land, and water from new power plants, both locally and from the long-range transport of air pollution;
- A framework for a North American air emissions trading regime for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides—two pollutants contributing to acid rain and smog; and
- Development of a carbon emissions trading regime to address climate change and promote forest conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
The advisory board urges the NAFTA countries to promote the development and use of renewable energy, conservation, and energy efficiency through increased market-based incentives and funding.
For more information, contact CEC.
