Opinion remains divided on whether Biden can meet decarbonisation targets for the US power sector: Poll

The newly elect US President Joe Biden has set a target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 to mitigate climate change, protect human health, and revitalise the economy.

Verdict has conducted a poll to assess if Biden will be able to meet the decarbonisation targets for the US power sector.

While 36% of the respondents opined that Biden will not be able to meet the decarbonisation targets for the US power sector, 35% believe Biden will be able to meet them.

The remaining 29% of the respondents were not aware if Biden will be able to meet the decarbonisation targets.

The analysis is based on 239 responses received from the readers of Power Technology, a Verdict network site, between 18 November 2020 and 17 March 2021.

Biden administration’s decarbonisation targets for the US

Joe Biden’s administration aims to invest $1.7tn in clean energy and jobs in its effort to reach the decarbonisation targets set for 2050. The president is targeting emission-free electricity generation by 2035, which will catapult decarbonisation plans for multiple utilities and a 100% clean energy economy.

Decarbonising the power sector, however, will require several measures to be implemented, including continued replacement of high-emission sources such as coal plants with low-emission sources, and enhancing grid flexibility and storage solutions, according to Biden’s administration. Further, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) solutions on remaining fossil fuel-based energy generation sources will need to be implemented.

The government’s initiative will focus on economical and game-changing technologies to support its 100% clean energy target. Grid-scale storage, modular nuclear reactors, zero net energy buildings, and carbon capture solutions are some of the ways in which the clean energy target is planned to be achieved.