Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions decreased in most states from 2005 to 2015

By Michelle Froese | December 12, 2017

The United States has a diverse energy landscape that is reflected in differences in state-level emissions profiles. Between 2005 and 2015, energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions decreased in 43 states (including the District of Columbia) and increased in 8 states. On a per-capita basis, energy-related CO2 emissions decreased in 49 states (including the District of Columbia) and increased in 2 states (Louisiana and Nebraska) between 2005 and 2015. EIA’s latest data on state-level energy-related CO2 emissions include data organized by fuel and by sector.

EIA’s analysis measures emissions released at the location where fossil fuels are consumed. When fuels are used in one state to generate electricity that is consumed in another state, for example, emissions are attributed to the state where the generation occurs.

The 10 states with the highest total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2015 accounted for half of the U.S. total. These 10 states also have large populations and account for slightly more than half (51%) of the nation’s total population. California was the second-highest emitter in absolute terms (364 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or MMmt CO2), behind Texas (626 MMmt CO2). However, California was also the third-lowest emitter on a per capita basis, behind the District of Columbia and New York. Two states with relatively small populations, Wyoming and North Dakota, had much higher levels of per capita emissions—nearly seven and five times the national average, respectively—because both states are large energy producers and, therefore, emit CO2 related to the production of coal, oil, and natural gas.

Energy-related CO2 emissions are the result of coal, petroleum, and natural gas consumed within a state to produce electricity (36% of U.S. total), to transport goods or people (35%), to operate industrial processes (18%), or to directly fuel equipment in residential and commercial buildings (11%). The consumption levels by fuel and by sector vary considerably by state. For example, in 2015 coal consumption accounted for 75% of energy-related CO2 emissions in West Virginia, although, in California, coal only accounted for 1% of emissions.

Consumption of petroleum in Hawaii and Vermont accounted for 92% and 89% of energy-related CO2 emissions respectively, but for different reasons. In both states, emissions from the transportation sector accounted for more than half of energy-related emissions. In Vermont, the non-electric (or direct) residential share of total emissions was 23%, mostly from the use of petroleum-based fuels such as heating oil to fuel furnaces and water heaters. Vermont had virtually no electric power sector CO2 emissions in 2015. Hawaii, on the other hand, has very little direct use of petroleum for residential heating applications, however, a much higher amount of petroleum is used for power generation.


Filed Under: News, Policy
Tagged With: eia
 

About The Author

Michelle Froese

Related Articles Read More >

Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards
US wind market has worst install year since 2013

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe