Full Title: Climate Tech Book: Electricity Sector Overview
Author(s): Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Publisher(s): Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Publication Date: August 1, 2011
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The electricity sector is responsible for about one third of all U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 40 percent of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. A snapshot of the fuels used in the United States for electricity shows that coal-fueled generation provides almost half of all electricity, natural gas and nuclear power each provide about 20 percent, and renewable sources, including large hydroelectric power, provide about 11 percent. The GHG emissions associated with different sources of electricity varies significantly, depending on both the fuel and the technology being used. Carbon dioxide makes up almost 99 percent of the GHG emissions from the electric power sector, and CO2 emissions from coal combustion account for over 80 percent of total emissions from the sector. The combustion of natural gas and petroleum account for most of the remaining CO2 emissions