Power Plants, Cars
Main Culprits Cited in Report
AUSTIN—Global warming pollution in Texas increased by 18% between 1990 and 2004,
according to The Carbon Boom, a new
analysis of state fossil fuel consumption data released today by Environment
Texas. This is the first time that 2004 state-by-state
data on carbon dioxide emissions have been released. The report finds that Texas ranks first in the
nation for total emissions, first for emissions from coal plants, first for
emissions from natural gas plants, and first for the largest increase in
emissions from motor gasoline consumption.
“Given
the risks from global warming, it’s incredibly irresponsible for Texas’ global warming
pollution to increase. It’s like the
doctor telling you that you need to go on a serious diet, but instead you go
straight for the Ben & Jerry’s,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment
Texas.
Environment
Texas’ report
comes less than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a
U.N. body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming,
released its consensus report on the current and projected impacts of global
warming. The report
warned of increasing droughts, floods, heat waves, water stress,
forest fires, and coastal flooding in the United States but concluded that “many
impacts can be avoided, reduced, or delayed” by quickly and significantly
reducing global warming pollution.
“Global
warming pollution is skyrocketing in Texas
just as scientists are sounding alarms that we must rapidly reduce pollution to
protect future generations. This report
is a wake-up call to cap pollution levels now before it is too late,” said
Metzger.
Using
data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Texas’ new report
examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption between
1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are
available.
Major
findings of the report include:
- Texas’ carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel
consumption grew from 560.5 million metric tons to 659 million metric tons
between 1990 and 2004, an increase of 18%. Texas ranked 1st nationwide
for the largest absolute increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the 15
year period and 1st for the most carbon dioxide emissions in
2004.
- In Texas, carbon dioxide emissions from
coal-fired power plants jumped by 23% between 1990 and 2004, rising from 119.8
million metric tons to 148.9 million metric tons. Texas
ranked first nationwide
for the most carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants in
2004.
- In Texas, carbon dioxide emissions from
natural gas-fired power plants increased by 21% between 1990 and 2004,
rising from 62 million metric tons to 75.3 million metric tons. Texas ranked first
nationwide for the most carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas-fired
power plants in 2004.
- In Texas, carbon dioxide
emissions from burning gasoline (primarily in cars and SUVs) increased by 34%
between 1990 and 2004, rising from 73.4 million metric tons to 98.4 million
metric tons. Between 1990 and 2004,
vehicle miles traveled in Texas
increased by 48%, while cars and SUVs became less efficient. Texas ranked first
nationwide for the largest absolute increase in carbon dioxide emissions
from motor gasoline consumption over the 15 year period.
“The good
news is that we have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming
pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Metzger.
The United States
could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing
technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars more efficient
and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and
solar power.
The Safe
Climate Act (H.R. 1590), introduced by Representative Henry Waxman (CA) in the
House, and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309), introduced by
Senators Bernie Sanders (VT) and Barbara Boxer (CA) in the Senate, would limit
global warming pollution to levels that current science says are needed to prevent
the worst effects of global warming. The
bills would freeze U.S.
global warming emissions in 2010 and reduce emissions by about 15% by 2020 and by
80% by 2050.
“To
protect future generations, our leaders must take decisive action to cut global
warming pollution. Environment Texas calls on Congress to
pass the only bill that does what scientists say we need to do—the Safe Climate
Act,” concluded Metzger. “We commend
Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Sheila Jackson Lee and Eddie Bernice Johnson for
co-sponsoring this critical legislation”.
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Environment Texas is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan citizens’
advocacy group based in Austin.
