Carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas in the United States are expected this year to surpass those from coal for the first time in more than four decades, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Even though natural gas is less carbon-intensive than coal, increases in natural gas consumption and decreases in coal consumption in the past decade have resulted in natural gas-related CO2 emissions surpassing those from coal,” an EIA release says. Natural gas emissions in 2016 are projected to be 10 percent higher than those from coal.
The release explains that coal’s carbon intensity is about 82 percent higher than that of natural gas. Given this, the use of natural gas must far exceed the use of coal for it to produce more carbon nationwide. “In 2015, natural gas consumption was 81% higher than coal consumption, and their emissions were nearly equal. Both fuels were associated with about 1.5 billion metric tons of energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States in 2015,” the release says.
The U.S. has been transitioning to natural gas use in recent years due to falling prices, making it a more economical choice that coal in many instances.
The last time natural gas emissions were greater than those of coal was 1972.
