US power and industry emissions down in 2015

Greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial sources in the US were down by 4.9% in 2015 compared to 2014, and by 8.2% when compared to 2011, according to the latest data collected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The data, which cover power plants, petroleum and natural gas systems, and industrial and waste facilities, are collected from 8,000 large facilities that report to EPA under the agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programme. The facilities account for around 50% of the US’ total greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the data, power plants are still the largest source of the US’ greenhouse gas emissions. Around 1,500 recorded power plants emitted 2bn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015 – 30% of total US emissions. Emissions from power plants fell by 6.2% in 2015 on a year earlier and 11.3% compared to 2011.

Petroleum and natural gas systems are the second largest stationary source of emissions under the programme’s categorisation – covering the production, processing, transmission, storage and distribution of oil and gas. This sector accounted for 231mn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015 – 1.6% lower than 2014 but 4.1% higher than 2011, according to the data.

Other sources of industrial and waste emissions accounted for 852mn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015 – down 1.6% from 2014. There were large declines in reported emissions from the iron and steel sectors, says EPA.

The programme, which also collects data on HFCs, is part of the US’ Climate Action Plan. A core part of this and the US’ efforts to address emissions from power plants, the Clean Power Plan, is effectively on hold as it makes its way through the US’ court system following a legal challenge from utilities, businesses and 27 US states. 

In September the case for and against the plan was heard at the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia, after a ruling from the US Supreme Court in February this year halted its rollout (see Energy World March 2016). A decision from the court of appeals is expected in February 2017.