ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT
Greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom increased 3.2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011 levels, according to official government data released this week. The largest emissions increase in the energy sector—at 5.9 percent—was due to the greater use of coal in electricity generation: Coal consumption in power stations increased by 32 percent in 2012, while gas consumption decreased by 30 percent. In total, carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom made up 82 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions—rising to 474.1 million tonnes in 2012 from 454 million tonnes in 2011—and 35 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions were from the energy supply sector. However, the government report notes that between 1990 and 2011 there was a 30 percent reduction in GHGs from the energy supply sector. “This decrease has resulted from a combination of changes in the mix of fuel being used for electricity generation, together with greater efficiency resulting from improvements in technology,” the report said. “It is difficult to assess the relative impacts of the two, but it is likely that the majority of the savings since 1990 will have been due to fuel switching from coal to gas for generation; there has been an overall decline in the use of coal at power stations over the period (particularly during the 1990s) accompanied by an overall increase in the use of gas, which has a lower carbon content.”
IN THE EPA
The Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, which provides policy advice and counsel to the Environmental Protection Agency, is set for later this month to a public to hold webinar on the EPA’s draft rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants with the essential mandate that new-build coal-fired plants be equipped with carbon capture and storage technology. The webinar will be held on Feb. 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Additional information about the meeting will be posted as it is available at the Committee website at http://www.epa.gov/oar/caaac/.
IN THE STATES
The path forward for enhanced oil recovery using CO2 in Michigan may soon become a bit easier under a legislative package approved by a state House committee this week. The package includes a measure that would create a more competitive tax rate for oil and gas produced by CO2-EOR projects, and other measures that would update the state’s current pipelines law to include the transportation of CO2 and clarify the rules for CO2 transport and would give the Michigan Public Service Commission oversight over the use of CO2 in fuel recovery. State Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee and a sponsor of one of the bills, said the legislation would be a boon to the state’s economy. “This is truly a win-win-win for Michigan,” he said. “Michigan has a great opportunity to become more competitive with other states that are already using this innovative method of enhanced recovery to help encourage the development of more Michigan and American energy. This legislative package will allow our state to take its place at the forefront of these advancing fields of energy production.”
