HIGHLIGHTS
- Keeping EPA’s eGRID updated is critical for policymaking
- Abt continues to develop the eGRID tool, which tracks air pollution emissions rates.
- Governments and others use the data to understand current emissions and estimate the impacts of emission reduction strategies.
The Challenge
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) is the preeminent source of data on the environmental characteristics of electric power generated in the United States. It’s based on available plant-specific data for all U.S. electricity-generating plants that provide power to the electric grid and report data to the U.S. government. As user needs grow, EPA must keep the emissions data current, accessible, and easy to understand and use.
The Approach
Abt has helped EPA produce eGRID since 2012. We conducted extensive stakeholder outreach to guide the design of new electricity-generation emissions-rate models and interactive dashboards. Abt also helped create interactive tools, including the eGRID Data Explorer which replaced static tables with an interactive interface, and Power Profiler, so users can move from raw data to clear, location-specific information.
The Results
Abt’s work has made eGRID faster to produce, less costly, and easier to use. By automating data analysis and quality checks, Abt cut production time by 50%, from 24 months to under 12 months. Production costs also fell by 85%. These gains help EPA provide more timely, accessible data on power generation, fuel mix, and emissions. For example, thanks to these innovative efforts, it is now possible to release eGRID data on an annual basis. Users can apply the data to analysis, planning, reporting, and research with confidence that it is timely and credible.
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