Unpriced Energy Costs: $120 Billion in Damages Revealed
Energy production and use have hidden costs that are not reflected in the market price. These costs include health damages from pollution and impacts on agriculture due to global warming. The National Research Council estimated these external costs to be around $120 billion in 2005, but this is likely a conservative estimate. Internalizing these costs through regulations like pollution taxes is important for a more accurate understanding of the true impact of energy production on society.