US Carbon Emissions Less Than Forecast
Carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. will be reduced 9.4 percent more by 2030 than previous expectations, according to the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions will hit 6.410 billion metric tons in 2030, the EIA said in its Annual Energy Outlook 2009.
Last year, the EIA had forecast the emissions would hit 6.851 billion metric tons by 2030.
"Efficiency policies and higher energy prices … slow the rise in U.S. energy use," the EIA said. "When combined with the increased use of renewables and a reduction in the projected additions of new coal-fired conventional power plants, this slows the growth in energy-related (greenhouse gas) emissions."
Energy sources’ carbon dioxide emissions were responsible for about 81 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2007.
Emissions from energy sources hit nearly 5.92 billion metric tons last year, the EIA said earlier this month.
President-elect Barack Obama has plans to reduce total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
Total consumption of renewable fuels including hydropower, the burning of wood, solar and wind power and biofuels will grow 3.3 percent per year, according to the report. The growth is spurred by the 2007 Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires more biofuels to be blended into gasoline, and mandates for minimum levels of renewable electricity generation in many states, the EIA said.
It said coal’s share of U.S. power generation will fall from 49 percent in 2007 to 45 percent by 2025 and then rebound to 47 percent by 2030 as new coal plants are added.
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