The U.S. electric power sector is in the early stages of transitioning from a reliance on carbon intensive generation sources to a system based on low-carbon sources. In this thesis, I present analyses of four different aspects of this transition, with an emphasis on the PJM Interconnection. The effects of bulk electricity storage on the PJM market I analyze the value of three storage technologies in the PJM day-ahead energy market, using a reduced-form unit commitment model with 2010 data. I find that large-scale storage would increase overall social welfare in PJM. However, the annualized capital costs of storage would exceed social welfare gains. Consumers would save up to $4 billion annually, largely at the expense of generator surplus. Storage modestly increases emissions of CO2 and other pollutants. The external costs and benefits of wind energy in PJM Large deployments of wind create external costs and benefits that are not fully captured in power purchase agreements. I find that wind’s external costs in the PJM market are uncertain but significant when compared to levelized PPA prices. Pollution reduction benefits are very uncertain but exceed external costs with high probability. The climate and health effects of a USA switch from coal to gas electricity generation I analyze the emission benefits created by a hypothetical scenario in which all U.S. coal plants are switched to natural gas plants in 2016. The net effect on warming is unclear; results are highly sensitive to the rate of fugitive methane emissions and the efficiency of replacement gas plants. However, the human health benefits of such a switch are substantial. The costs of building and operating new gas plants likely exceed the health benefits. Robust resource adequacy planning in the face of coal retirements Over the next decade, many U.S. coal-fired power plants are expected to retire, posing a challenge to system planners. I investigate the resource adequacy requirements of the PJM Interconnection, and how procuring less capacity may affect reliability. I find that PJM’s 2010 reserve margin of 20.5% was sufficient to achieve the stated reliability standard with 90% confidence. PJM could reduce reserve margins to 13% and still achieve levels of reliability accepted by other power systems.

Thesis (M.B.A)--Boston University

In the purpose of this study we examine the long run relationship between the flower wholesale markets in Taiwan by the theory of Park (2007). The market integration is analyzed from the viewpoint of the Law of One Price (LOP). The LOP means that the products flow from the lower price markets to the higher price ones without transaction cost utill everywhere have the same price. However, in a situation that the transaction cost exists, the assumption of LOP is questionable. When the price difference between two markets exceeds the transaction cost, there is an arbitrage opportunity. This study examine the relationship between the flower wholesale markets in Taiwan by threshold cointegration theory. The result is that there indeed exists long run relationship and threshold effects. In addition, we consider a time-varing threshold cointegration model in Park (2007), to see whether there are different arbitrage behavious depending on the season between the flower wholesale markets. Finally, we have a result that the same price gap between markets in different season will be in different regime because of the change of the value of threshold. And it causes the seasonal arbitrage behavious.

This study intends to examine the changes in the structural relations between the actors of fresh fruit and vegetable distribution process within a time scope of thirty years perspective. In summary the following questions were tried to be answered: - Who are the actors active in the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution process? - How these actors transformed within a time scope of thirty years and how they were effected from the changes in overall economic developments and government policies? - What potentials do these actors have for the future and what are the key areas of development to sustain a winning environment for all parties involved: for producers, distributors and consumers?