What measures were presented to control CO2 emission?

Answer 1

The President issued a directive on April 15, 1999, requiring an annual report summarizing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by the generation of electricity by utilities and nonutilities in the United States. In response, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly submitted the first report on October 15, 1999. This is the second annual report(1) that estimates the CO2 emissions attributable to the generation of electricity in the United States. The data on CO2 emissions and the generation of electricity were collected and prepared by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the report was jointly written by DOE and EPA to address the five areas outlined in the Presidential Directive.

The emissions of CO2 are presented on the basis of total mass (tons) and output rate (pounds per kilowatthour). The information is stratified by the type of fuel used for electricity generation and presented for both regional and national levels. The percentage of electricity generation produced by each fuel type or energy resource is indicated.

The 1999 data on CO2 emissions and generation by fuel type are compared to the same data for the previous year, 1998. Factors contributing to regional and national level changes in the amount and average output rate of CO2 are identified and discussed.

The Energy Information Administration's most recent projections of CO2 emissions and generation by fuel type for 1999 are compared to the actual data summarized in this report to identify deviations between projected and actual CO2 emissions and electricity generation.

Information for 1998 on voluntary carbon-reducing and carbon-sequestration projects reported by the electric power sector and the resulting amount of CO2 reductions are presented. Included are programs undertaken by the utilities themselves as well as programs supported by the Federal government to support voluntary CO2 reductions.

Appropriate updates to the Department of Energy's estimated environmental effects of the Administration's proposed restructuring legislation are included.