As I wrote last month would probably happen, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) lowered its estimate for fossil fuel energy demand in 2009, translating into a huge drop in greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions projections for coal, oil, and natural gas were all lowered in its July Short Term Energy Outlook — meaning, by my calculations, that US emissions are expected to fall (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Coal’
EIA: US emissions diving more than 4% in 2009
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009Solar quickly approaching grid parity
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Solar module prices are falling so fast that solar may be able to cost-effectively compete with fossil fuels within a matter of months. The latest bit of news confirming astounding price drops was from China’s LDK Solar. LDK is a producer of the main component of solar modules (wafers). While their second quarter guidance showed a boost in shipments, it also lowered their revenue expectations, translating into a cost per watt of (more…)
Recession keeps a lid on fuel prices
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
The recent oil price rally has taken a break due to the persistence of recessionary low demand. While lower prices may finally translate into lower crude oil and natural gas output in July 2009 than in 2008, US demand numbers show little sign of recovery. This reality makes it tough for renewable energy to compete currently, but is a relief to (more…)
The Human Toll of Fossil Fuel Use
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Most of my posts have focused on the environmental and public health impacts of burning fossil fuels due to their greenhouse gas emissions. But the 16 deaths from a liquefied petroleum gas explosion on an Italian train today are an important reminder that reduced emissions are not the only benefit from efficiency and (more…)
EIA Report: US emissions to tank ~3.5% in ‘09
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
The US Energy Information Agency (EIA) has further lowered its emissions projection for 2009 this month, as I said in May was likely. Lower coal consumption drives the reduction, based on the drop in industrial demand for fuel and the substitution by natural gas for coal for (more…)
House committee passes climate bill as electricity emissions plunge
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed Waxman-Markey’s American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act by a 33-25 vote. This passage does not guarantee ultimate passage in the full House or Senate, but gets some positive political momentum behind necessary federal (more…)
New report shows global emissions likely to fall
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) reported today that they expect global oil demand to fall 2.6 million barrels per day (Mbd) in 2009, .24 Mbd lower than their April forecast. As I wrote last month, falling oil consumption can lead to lower overall global greenhouse gas emissions. And IEA’s prediction of even lower oil demand leads me to believe a 2009 emissions drop is now (more…)
May report: US emissions expected to fall further
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook today. And their projection for 2009 US carbon dioxide emissions from energy fell even further than last month’s. The drop was led by (more…)
US Electricity Emissions in Freefall
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) US electric power estimates for January and February just came out. And the numbers are dramatic. Net generation in January was down ~3.3% from January 2008, largely on lower demand from industrial users. February showed an even greater ~6.9% nosedive in (more…)
New Report: US emissions to fall another 2.5+% in 2009
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009In February, I shared that the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicted lower greenhouse gas emissions from US energy consumption in 2009. Their earlier projection of ~2% lower emissions just shifted in their April report to a much lower (more…)