Presenter(s): Blake Dressel − Economics
Co Presenter(s): Natalie Valent
Faculty Mentor(s): Bill Harbaugh
Oral Session 3S
Research Area: Social Science
In an effort to combat climate change, the Oregon State legislature has proposed a cap-and-invest program that establishes a ceiling on total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions through covered entities and a market-based compliance mechanism. The mechanism will promote carbon sequestration, adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change
and ocean acidification. The legislation establishes a Climate Investment Fund, Just Transition Fund, and a Transportation Decarbonized Fund, which allocates permit funds. The program funding should be allocated in a way that is feasible, cost- effective, and consistent with the law. To find changes in employment rates across Oregon economic sectors, we classify United States (US) state policies as either command-and-control, market-based, or information instruments with the goal of increasing renewable energy development. This data comes from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). Furthermore, the paper uses a difference-in-difference-in-difference (D3) econometric estimator, which compares environmental conditions before and after policy implementation, that looks to compare various policy types across US states, across economic sector, and over time with the goal of estimating changes in employment. The employment data comes from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Based on the literature and data gathered from other US states’ laws, we propose measures that reflect the most cost effective abatement instruments. We then examine changes in emissions through policies to observe changes in employment in Oregon. This information helps inform the analysis of Oregon energy and environmental policies.