Power producers in the US succeeding in cutting SO2, NO2 and CO2 emissions

Power producers in the US have managed to reduce their sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new report.

Air pollution news in relation to power plants is generally negative, so it has come as a breath of fresh air (excuse the pun) to hear about some positive data concerning damaging emissions in the US.

The report, conducted by advocacy group Ceres, analysed 100 power producers across the US, and based their findings on generation and emissions data from the Energy Information Administration and the EPA.

They found that even though power stations were still contributing significantly to overall air pollution levels in the US, the figures had dropped dramatically over the past couple of decades. In 2010, power plants were still responsible for around 64 per cent of sulphur dioxide emissions, 16 per cent of nitrogen dioxide emissions, and 40 per cent of carbon emissions.

However, compared to the same figures taken 20 years ago in 1990, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions were 68 per cent lower than they were. The improvements in air quality have been attributed to programs implemented under the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA). The program seems to have lasting effects too, as both kinds of emissions continued to decrease in 2011 and 2012.

Another positive bit of news from the Cares report was that renewable energy has started to contribute significantly to energy supplies. Production in the renewable sector more than doubled from 83 million megawatt hours (MWh) in 2004 to 195 million MWh in 2011.

Added to that, there has been a move away from coal-based electricity, which is a good sign from the energy sector. Coal-based electricity decreased by over six per cent between 2010 and 2011. However, at the same time, there has been an increased reliance on natural gas power, which is seen by many as the lesser evil when it comes to fossil fuels.

Natural gas power generation has increased by 25 per cent, and electricity generation from natural gas fired plants is now virtually equal to generation from coal fired plants, with each providing 32 per cent of total generation in April 2012.

Posted by Claire Manning