EPA report on US GHG emissions

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.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/22042014/epa_reports_ghg_us_levels399/