Energy & Science
U.S. Power Emissions Set to Surge Most in More Than 30 Years
- Power consumption rising with economy recovering from pandemic
- Utilities are burning more coal after natural gas prices climb
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Greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. energy industry are on track to surge the most in more than three decades as utilities increasingly turn to coal to power the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Carbon emissions will swell 7% this year to 4.89 billion metric tons, according to government data released Tuesday, the biggest increase since at least 1990. Coal’s share of the U.S. power mix will increase to 23%, up from 20% last year, as high natural gas prices prompt utilities to burn more of the dirtiest fossil fuel.