On 15 April, the US EPA released its latest annual report of overall US GHG emissions which showed a 3.4% decrease in 2012 from 2011. The report is important, according to the American Public Gas Association (APGA) as its provides the benchmark data used to establish federal, state and local climate and GHG policy.
Facts and figures
The residential and commercial sectors accounted for 6% and 4% of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, 43% and 41% of CH4 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, and 2% and 1% of N2O emissions from fossil fuel combustion, respectively. Combustion emissions from natural gas consumption represent 78% and 79% of the direct fossil fuel CO2 emissions from the residential and commercial sectors, respectively.
In 2012, natural gas combustion CO2 emissions from the residential and commercial sectors decreased by 11.7% and 8% from 2011 levels, respectively.
Further research
It has also been reported that a study be several university researches is due to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, which has found that methane emissions from seven Pennsylvania wells in the Marcellus shale were above EPA estimates. The researchers measured the methane in June 2012 using a plane flying above the wells, and found higher emissions during the early stage of drilling.
Adapted from a press release by Claira Lloyd.