EIA: U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased 1.6% in 2007

May 28, 2008

A growing U.S. economy, less-moderate weather conditions, and a drop in hydropower production pushed up U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy use by 1.6% in 2007, according to preliminary estimates by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The agency notes that the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 2.2% in 2007, while more energy was needed for both heating and cooling relative to 2006. In addition, electricity generation increased by 2.5%, and carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector increased even more, at 3%, indicating that U.S. utilities shifted towards energy sources that emitted more carbon. That shift was partially caused by a 40 billion kilowatt-hour decrease in hydropower production, causing a greater reliance on natural gas and coal. Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants fueled with natural gas increased by 10.5%, while coal-burning power plants increased their emissions by 1.8%. See the EIA's "flash estimate" of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.