United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-12-16 monographic deposited born digital 83 p. GA 1.13:RCED-95-30 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30 P0b002ee180382e1f f:rc95030 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30 RCED-95-30 Air pollution control Cost control Compliance Environmental law Environmental policies Independent regulatory commissions Electric utilities Industrial pollution Precipitation (weather) California Regional Clean Air Incentives Market Program DOE Utility Commission Proceedings Participation Program EPA National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program Chapter Report RCED In 1990, Congress adopted a new regulatory approach to reduce acid rain, allowing electric utilities to trade allowances to emit sulfur dioxide, a major cause of acid rain. Utilities that reduce their emissions below their required levels can sell their extra allowances to other utilities to help them meet their requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this flexible approach to curbing acid rain could reduce costs significantly because trading allowances can be less costly than other methods of controlling pollution. This report discusses the (1) extent to which trading is expected to cut sulfur dioxide emissions and compliance costs, and the status of the allowance trading market; (2) impediments to increased trading of allowances; and (3) implications of designing a similar approach to curb carbon dioxide emissions. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30/pdf/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30.pdf GAO/RCED-95-30 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-30 Chapter Report GAO/RCED-95-30; Air Pollution: Allowance Trading Offers an Opportunity to Reduce Emissions at Less Cost; Air pollution control Cost control Compliance Environmental law Environmental policies Independent regulatory commissions Electric utilities Industrial pollution Precipitation (weather) California Regional Clean Air Incentives Market Program DOE Utility Commission Proceedings Participation Program EPA National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program