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Voluntary reductions bring greenhouse gas emissions down Energy Information Administration says 87 U.S. companies, organizations, report three times reductions, offsets in 1998 compared to 1994 Petroleum News Alaska
A study released by the Energy Information Administration Jan. 4 says that 187 U.S. companies and other organizations reported 1,507 projects that claimed reductions or offsets of greenhouse gas emissions in 1998 of 212 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or about 3.2 percent of total U.S. emissions for the year. This is almost three times the 74 million metric tons of reductions and offsets reported in 1994, the first year of a voluntary reporting program called for by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The report, “Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 1998,” discusses the results of the fifth year of the program.
With 105 reporters, the electric power sector continues to provide most of the participants in the program, including nearly all of the countries’ largest generating utilities. These companies reported projects such as improved plant efficiencies, cogeneration, use of non-fossil fuels such as nuclear and renewable fuels, and demand-side management programs that reduce power use by their customers. Other reported projects cover many different approaches to reducing or offsetting emissions, and include such activities as methane recovery projects at landfills, urban forestry, and worldwide tree planting projects.
Reporting from other sectors grows The number of participants from outside the electric power sector was more than six times the number reporting in the first year of the program. These companies now comprise 44 percent of the reporters to the program and include firms engaged in automobile manufacturing, petroleum production and refining, coal mining, the chemical industry, the metals industry, health care, pharmaceuticals, food, home furnishings and electronic equipment.
The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, required by Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, is part of the U.S. government’s efforts to develop innovative, low-cost, and nonregulatory approaches to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halogenated substances such as hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons, absorb infrared energy and prevent it from leaving the atmosphere. Increasing levels of these gases in the atmosphere may contribute to an increase in average global temperatures, resulting in adverse climate changes.
Reporting provides public record of achievements The voluntary reporting program affords an opportunity for any organization or individual to establish a public record of its achievements in reducing or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions in a national, publicly available database. Participants may report aggregate emissions and emission reductions as well as any activity that reduces or offsets greenhouse gas emissions. Offsetting emissions typically involves sequestering carbon by growing trees, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 1998” is available
electronically on EIA’s web site at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vrrpt/index.html.
Printed copies of the report are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, (202) 512-1800, or through EIA’s National Energy Information Center, (202) 586-8800.
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