Carbon dioxide emissions fall as nation uses less coal and more natural gas Electricity sales down to near decade low

An old windmill that pumps water for cattle is framed by the new wind turbines that produce electricity along Highway 287 just north of Amarillo in 2013. An old windmill that pumps water for cattle is framed by the new wind turbines that produce electricity along Highway 287 just north of Amarillo in 2013. Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Carbon dioxide emissions fall as nation uses less coal and more natural gas 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The electric power industry made such a dramatic shift last year away from coal and toward natural gas and renewable energy sources, contributing to the industry's 4.6 percent decrease in emissions of carbon dioxide, the Energy Department reported.

The decline was enough to offset emissions increases from all other business sectors.

Electricity producers cut their emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and increases worldwide temperatures, by relying more on natural gas, a cleaner, more efficient fuel source that uses less energy to generate each kilowatt hour of power. Electricity generation from wind and solar power is also on the rise which does not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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Less demand for electricity is also playing a role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the government reported.

Electricity sales last year were the lowest they've been since the economic recession in 2009. The government attributed last year's lower sales to milder weather. Cooler summers don't require as much energy for air conditioning and warmer winters lowers the need for heating.

Overall, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions decreased last year to 5.14 billion metric tons, about 1 percent lower than they were in 2016.

Energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide have fallen in seven of the past 10 years, the Energy Department reported, and are 14 percent lower than what they were in 2005.