US energy related carbon dioxide emissions in 2013 expected to be 2% up on 2012

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects to find that energy related carbon dioxide emissions in 2013 are roughly 2% above the 2012 level.

This is thought to be largely due to a small increase in coal consumption in the electric power sector.

From 2005 to 2013, the key energy economic drivers of a changing US energy landscape included:

• Weak economic growth in recent years, dampening growth in energy demand compared to pre-recession expectations.
• Continuously improving energy efficiency across the economy, including buildings and transportation.
• High energy prices over the past four years, with the exception of natural gas.
• An abundant and inexpensive supply of natural gas, resulting from the widespread use of new production technologies for shale gas.
• Power sector decarbonisation since 2010, as natural gas and renewables replace coal.

CO₂ emissions levels have declined four out of six years since their 2007 peak, reaching an historically low (12% below the 2005 level) in 2012.

Emissions in 2013 are slightly more than 10% below 2005 levels, significantly contributing towards the current administration’s goal of a 17% reduction in emissions from the 2005 level by 2020. This level of reduction is expected to continue through 2015, according to the EIA’s most recent Short Term Energy Outlook.

Adapted from a press release by Emma McAleavey.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/14012014/us_co2_emissions_up_on_last_year45/