How much greenhouse gas is emitted to produce and transmit electricity?
The U.S. total electricity-related emissions in 2007 were 2,538.5 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (about 35% of U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions). This includes: • 2,516.6 million metric tons of emissions of carbon dioxide from conventional power plants and combined-heat-and-power plants • (2,433.4 million metric tons from the electric power sector; the rest from the industrial and commercial sectors.) • 0.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of methane • 9.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of nitrous oxide • 12.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of sulfur hexafluoride from leaking electricity transmission equipment where sulfur hexafluoride is used for insulation. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States, 2007 reports EIA’s latest annual emissions data.
