Ban New Capacity of Specific Types

Policymakers may choose to prevent the construction or deployment of new electricity generating capacity of specific types, such as new coal-fired power plants. A ban on new power plants may be motivated by concern about existing excess capacity, the need to lower emissions of damaging pollutants, or health and safety concerns.

Bans on new capacity can be directly promulgated and the national or subnational level or can be instituted via arduous permitting and technology requirements.

For a more detailed discussion, see the applicable chapter of Designing Climate Solutions, our book on smart energy and climate policy design.