Air Pollution Control Equipment Services Carbon Emissions from Generation Fall Below Transportation Emissions A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates carbon dioxide emissions for power generation have fallen below emissions from the transportation sector for the first time since the late 1970s. Clarion Energy Content Directors 3.9.2017 Share By Editors of Power Engineering A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates carbon dioxide emissions for power generation have fallen below emissions from the transportation sector for the first time since the late 1970s. Electric power CO2 emissions fell to 1,803 million metric tons from October 2015 through September 2016, continuing a 10-year downward trend. Transportation CO2 emissions rose slightly to 1,893 million metric tons during the same time period. Power emissions mostly come from coal and natural gas-fired electric generators, with coal generation running from 206 to 229 pounds per million British thermal units, depending on the type of coal used. Natural gas emits an average of 117 pounds per million British thermal units, as it requires less fuel to generate electricity. As such, coal accounted for 61 percent of all electrical generation emissions, even though coal was used to generate 31 percent of power. Natural gas generated 31 percent of generation emissions. As for the transportation sector, 60 percent of those emissions came from gasoline, with 23 percent from distillate fuel oil and 12 percent from jet fuel. Related Articles 8 Rivers, Siemens Energy collaborate on gas turbine decarbonization Indiana’s consumer advocate wants to thwart Duke Energy’s carbon capture study Calpine, DOE enter cost share agreement for Houston carbon capture demonstration Installing carbon capture in Utah would be tough. But is that debate missing the point?
