CO2 Emissions Drop from Electricity Sector

Carbon dioxide emissions from the generation of electricity in the United States are at their lowest in 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

A recent EIA report noted that, due to a change in the fuel mix and improvements in electricity generating technology, CO2 emissions are the lowest they have been since 1987. Much of this is due to a declining use of coal and an increased use of natural gas in generating electricity. While natural gas is a fossil fuel, natural gas-powered generating plants are slightly more efficient than coal-powered plants and natural gas plants emitted about half of the CO2 that coal plants emitted in 2017.

It was noted by a U.N. conference that natural gas can help smooth the transition to a low-carbon economy.