The analysis described in this dissertation demonstrates the use of benefit/cost sensitivity analysis in examining the wide range of potential damages and savings associated with converting oil-fired electrical utility boilers to burn coal in Florida. This model, for the first time incorporates, in quantitative terms, environmental economic externalities into a benefit cost ratio sensitivity analysis framework. Five different dose-response estimate of morbidity and mortality costs, property devaluation and willing-to-pay estimates are used in combination with four acid rain dose-response models to estimate the net present worth of externality costs. / The model estimates the net present worth of benefits by incorporating into a dynamic framework all relevant construction, O+M and fuel costs of converting an electrical generation facility from using oil to coal. These benefits of fuel savings are then weighted against various combinations of externality costs associated with increased sulfur oxide emission from the converted units. / The policy analysis simulations provided in this study demonstrate that the economic externalities associated with uncontrolled emissions are frequently far greater than the higher operation and maintenance and capital costs of the most expensive emission control equipment. Furthermore, the partial and full emission control options result in very little change in the net present worth of savings from the completely uncontrolled option. The acid rain dose response models employed in this analysis are first approximations only drawn from a wide range of national and international research. The relative magnitude of acid rain externality costs, however, overwhelm all other sulfur oxide morbidity and mortality, willingness-to-pay and all property value change dose response model combinations. / The introduction of environmental economic externalities into the benefit cost equations significantly alters the final ratios as the sensitivity analysis in this report demonstrates. Finally, internalizing these externalities substantially alters the policy conclusions of all scenarios examined. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-09, Section: A, page: 2947. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75408 |
| Contributors | LYNCH, THOMAS ANTHONY., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 267 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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