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Reformulating taxes for an energy transition

Jaume Freire-González and Ignasi Puig-Ventosa

Energy Economics, 2019, vol. 78, issue C, 312-323

Abstract: An energy transition toward clean energy sources would reduce environmental impacts. One proposal to trigger this energy transition uses economic instruments, particularly environmental taxes. This research studies the potential impact of taxes on electricity on the environment and the economy. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model for Spain with energy and environmental extensions, we assess their current impact on GDP growth, energy use, and a set of different pollutant emissions. Then we propose a reform that would foster an energy transition toward clean energies and assess their economic and environmental impact. We find that only taxing the production of electricity by coal, oil, and natural gas can be better for the environment and economy than taxing all forms of electricity production in a revenue-neutral context. Moreover, the production of electricity by biomass, though considered renewable, is an important source of pollutant emissions and, in these terms, should have less importance in an energy transition.

Keywords: Energy transition; Environmental taxation; Computable general equilibrium; Renewables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C68 H23 Q40 Q42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:78:y:2019:i:c:p:312-323

DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2018.11.027

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Energy Economics is currently edited by R. S. J. Tol, Beng Ang, Lance Bachmeier, Perry Sadorsky, Ugur Soytas and J. P. Weyant

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