US Carbon Dioxide Emissions Drop 7%

In May The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its annual report on U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions for 2009.  Energy-related CO₂ emissions have dropped by 7%, faster than expected.  About a third of the drop is due to the recession, but a third is due to a reduction in the energy intensity of the economy, and a third to a reduction in the carbon intensity of energy. Gains in efficiency, lower natural gas prices, state renewable energy standards, and a clean-energy-friendly ARRA economic stimulus have been identified as key contributors.

In May I blogged about a new energy bill introduced in the Senate proposing cutting US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020 based on a cap and trade scheme for large polluters such as coal-fired power generation plants, but exempting farms and small and medium-sized businesses from emissions charges. In light of the EIA report it seems strange that it now appears that legislators are looking at a scaled-back energy bill that only limits carbon pollution by electric power plants.  Electricity generation is responsible for over 40% of emissions produced in the US.