U.S. reports mixed bag for CO2 emissions
A federal report from the U.S. government found a diverse energy landscape meant emissions tied to energy use were down in neary every state since 2005.
“The United States has a diverse energy landscape that is reflected in differences in state-level emissions profiles,” a briefing from the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. “Since 2005, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions fell in 48 states, including the District of Columbia, and rose in three states, on a per capita basis.”
The U.S. government is supporting solar development through its SunShot initiative, which aims to make the renewable technology competitive. The program aims to move solar power capacity from less than 1 percent of the national electricity supply to 14 percent by 2030.
In February, energy consultant group Wood Mackenzie found solar power has evolved from a niche renewable sector to something that’s pressuring conventional business models in the utility industry.
The Department of Energy, meanwhile, found that wind energy is becoming a “mainstream power source,” accounting for 31 percent of all new electricity capacity added to the U.S. grid between 2008 and last year.
