AVoided Emissions and geneRation
Too! (AVERT)

A tool that estimates the emission benefits of
energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy
(RE) policies and programs

What is AVERT?

AVERT is a free tool with a simple user interface designed to meet the
needs of state air quality planners and other interested stakeholders.
Non-experts can easily use AVERT to evaluate county-level emissions
displaced at electric power plants by EE/RE policies and programs.
AVERT uses public data which is accessible and auditable.

Why use AVERT?

Organizations interested in the emission benefits of EE/RE policies and
programs can use AVERT to:

•	Quantify the nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (S02), and
carbon dioxide (C02) emission benefits of state and multi-state
EE/RE policies or programs.

•	Use AVERT-calculated emission impacts of EE/RE policies in air
quality modeling and Clean Air Act plans to meet the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards.

•	Analyze the regional, state, and county-level emission impacts of
different EE/RE programs based on their temporalenergy savings
and hourly generation profiles.

•	Compare the emission impacts of different types of EE/RE
programs, such as the impacts of wind versus solar installations.

•	Understand the emission impacts of different EE/RE policies and
programs during high electric demand days.

•	Present information about location-specific emission benefits in
easy-to-interpret tables and maps.

Cost-effective ways to
reduce air pollution
and include emission
benefits in Clean Air
Act plans

Many states are adopting,
implementing, and
expanding cost-effective
EE/RE policies and
programs. States are
investing in EE/RE policies
and programs to achieve
many benefits:

•	Lower customer costs

•	Improve electric
supply reliability

•	Diversify their energy
supply portfolios

Energy efficiency and
renewable energy can also
reduce pollution of criteria
air pollutants and
greenhouse gases.

EPA is committed to helping
air quality planners
calculate the emission
benefits of EE/RE policies
and programs and include
AVERT-calculated emission
reductions in Clean Air Act
plans to meet National
Ambient Air Quality
Standards and other clean
air goals.

mm

State Climate and Energy Prograrr

&EPA

epa.gov/statelocalclimate


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When should AVERT not be used?

AVERT is only intended for analyzing the emission impacts of EE/RE policies and programs and should not be
used to examine the emission impacts of major fleet adjustments or changes extending further than 5 years
from the baseline year.

Who should use AVERT?

•	Analysts looking to improve their understanding of the emission benefits of state-wide or multi-state
EE/RE policies and programs.

•	Environmental agency staff and air quality planners interested in assessing emission benefits and
including them in Clean Air Act plans to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards or other
clean air goals.

•	Energy officials or public utility commission staff looking to estimate or promote the air benefits of
existing or planned energy efficiency or renewable energy policies.

How do I run a scenario in AVERT?

AVERT's Main Module estimates the displaced emissions
likely to result from EE/RE programs in reference to a base
year or future year scenario. Users select one of 10 AVERT
regions for analysis, upload one regional data file, and
input data on the type of EE/RE program they want to
analyze in AVERT. For EE policies and programs, users
should have EE savings annual impacts (in MWh), or
preferentially, an understanding of the policies' or
programs' temporal profiles (e.g., would the EE program
save energy during peak periods or the same amount
through the year). Certain states with on-the-book EE
policies that are not included in AEO 2013 may use EPA's

hourly load impact profiles. Refer to the resource at the bottom of the page for state hourly impact load
profiles. For RE programs, users will need to know the capacity of the solar or wind resource they want to
analyze.

For more information

•	Visit the AVERT website at www.epa.gov/avert.

•	View state EE/RE policy impacts hourly profiles at

www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/state/statepolicies.html.

•	Contact EPA's State and Local Climate and Energy Program at avert@epa.gov.



State Climate and Energy Prograrr

&EPA

epa.gov/statelocalclimate


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