New Study Estimates Wind and Solar Energy Generated $249 Billion in Climate and Health Benefits Over Five Years.

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new methodology for estimating the value of climate and air quality benefits from wind and solar generation. The study, which used publicly available electricity generation data, found that wind and sun generated $249 billion in climate and health benefits over the next five years. The researchers break the continental U.S. into ten regions where wind or solar supplies at least 3% of electricity demand. An 11th region, Tennessee, was excluded due to these thresholds. The method measures daily generation from appropriate sources (solar, wind, gas and coal) by region and a yearly average of emissions by region. In 2022, wind generation offsets 0.89 MWh of fossil generation and solar generating offset 0.76 MWh (0.14 MWh) of coal generation, resulting in total health benefits worth $62.4 billion.