ABSTRACT
This study reviews the impact of a sulfur cap-and-trade programme on distributions of sulfur from commercial electricity utility generators within Massachusetts from 1990 thru 2014. The results indicate that sulfur reductions occurred throughout Massachusetts that were proportional, including a targeted study area within the state that meets the operational definition of a marginalized community. While the target study community disproportionately produced more sulfur emissions than surrounding communities, the overall reductions through cap-and-trade were consistent throughout the entire state. Other factors, beyond cap-and-trade, are identified as possible reasons why all areas of the state saw proportional reductions. But aside from those additional factors, the results indicate that cap-and-trade resulted in substantial and proportional reductions of sulfur throughout Massachusetts. This result informs more recent studies at the national level in the United States which show cap-and-trade programmes have the potential to create disproportional impacts, particularly when looking at sulfur emission distributions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
ORCID
Chad J. McGuire http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2480-4751