US Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Dip 3.4pc In 2011

Energy-related CO2 emissions declined in all but eight US states in 2011, with North Carolina experiencing the largest decrease in percentage and volume terms.

North Carolina's energy-related CO2 emissions fell by 15.9mn metric tonnes in 2011 from 2010, an 11.5pc decline, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said yesterday in a report on state-level emissions. Overall, US energy-related CO2 emissions dipped by 3.4pc in 2011.

Emissions declined in all but two of the nine states in the northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), leading to a 23pc decline across the region. Delaware's emissions increased to 11.8mn t from 11.1mn t while Maine's emissions were flat. Of the other seven RGGI states, New York reduced its total emissions the most in 2011, by 11.8mn t, and Maryland had the greatest decline as a percent of its total with a 7.4pc drop.

Texas remains the highest emitting state in the US, producing 655mn t of CO2 in 2011, 90pc more than the state with the second-highest emissions, California. Nonetheless, Texas cut its emissions by 1pc in 2011, and by 9pc from 2000 to 2011, nearly 2pc more than the average for US states during those years.

Although Texas had above-average per capita energy-related CO2 emissions, it did not rank among the top states in this category. Wyoming led all states with 112.5t/person, 6.5 times the national average. North Dakota. at 78.3t/person, and Alaska, at 52.9t/person ranked second and third.

EIA defines energy-related CO2 emissions to include emissions from locations location where fossil fuels are used, including at power plants, commercial facilities, residences and in transport.