How is it fair to focus only on coal rather than all fossil fuels, especially the pollution that comes from cars and trucks?
It is important to focus on coal because it produces more CO2 per million Btus of energy than either oil or gas. The two largest sources contributing to CO2 emissions in the U.S. come from using coal to produce electric power (33 percent) and using petroleum for transportation, including trucks, trains and airplanes as well as cars (32 percent). 19 (Other GHGs contribute about 16 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions, on a CO2 -equivalent basis.) Emissions from both coal-fired power plants and transportation must be addressed. The recently enacted Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) increases the fuel economy standards for new cars and light trucks by 40 percent, to an average of 35 mpg by 2020. But improved Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards alone won’t solve the problem; emissions from the transportation sector also depend on the total number of vehicle miles traveled and people’s driving practices (e.g., speed, rapid starts and stops). Moreover, a governme
