US carbon emissions drop as gas displaces coal

A switch from coal to natural gas in electricity production helped drive down energy-related U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2012 to their lowest level since 1994, the federal Energy Information Administration said Friday.

The carbon emissions have fallen every year since 2007, with the exception of 2010, according to the agency.

Various forms of energy production and use — including power plants, refineries and tailpipes — create the vast majority of U.S. carbon emissions that are linked to global warming.

The biggest drop in 2012 came from declining use of coal, a fuel facing fierce competition from low natural gas prices, according to the EIA, which is the Energy Department’s independent statistical arm.

Read more:  http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/292083-us-carbon-emissions-drop-as-gas-displaces-coal