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In 1973, the electric power sector produced 691 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per million kilowatt hour (kW-hr) of electricity generated. By 2015, CO₂ emissions were down to 488 metric tons per million kW-hr of electricity generated. That reduction is about 30% with much of it occurring in the last ten years. The declining use of coal and increasing reliance on less carbon intensive sources, including natural gas and renewables, has contributed to the decrease in CO₂ emissions from electricity generation.

Since February of 2016, the transportation sector CO₂ emissions have exceeded that of the electric power sector, partly due to the decrease in electric power sector emissions. As the transportation sector relies more upon the power grid for supporting the growing number of plug-in electric vehicles, the decrease in CO₂ from power generation will benefit the transportation sector as well.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions per kW-hr of Electricity Generated in the Electric Power Sector, 1973-2015

Fact #949 Dataset

Supporting Information

Carbon Dioxide Emissions per kW-hr of Electricity Generated in the Electric Power Sector, 1973-2015

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