US carbon emissions in surprise drop

[phantom power]

US emissions of carbon dioxide blamed for climate change fell in 2011 and have slipped to a 20-year low this year as the the world's largest economy uses more natural gas and less coal, data shows.

The surprise drop from the world's second biggest emitter comes despite the lack of legislation on climate change but it was unclear if the change marked a trend or would be enough to meet goals on fighting global warming.

http://phys.org/news/2012-08-carbon-emissions.html

[mopinko]

1. i'm sure the recession doesn't hurt, either.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Its not clear to me how switching to natural gas reduces CO2 emissions

After all, the byproduct of burning natural gas is CO2 and water.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Burning coal is a bullet to the brain, burning natural gas is a gut shot...

Taking coal to contain 50 percent carbon, which combines with oxygen during burning to form CO2, we can arrive at 1.83 kg CO2 for every 1 kg of coal burned. Another way to put it, taking the efficiency of power stations into account, is that 950 grams of CO2 is evolved for every KWh of electricity produced. Note that for natural gas it is more like 600 g per KWh for natural gas powered plants.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_CO2_is_produced_from_burning_coal#ixzz23uix9FPD

On Edit:

Better comparison chart here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparisons_of_life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emissions

[Xipe Totec]

4. I see why, now.

Natural gas contains both carbon and hydrogen. Only part of the energy produced is generated from the carbon, which produces the carbon dioxide. The other part comes from burning the hydrogen which produces only water.

[joshcryer]

5. Natural gas combined cycle turbines are also more efficient than coal plants.

Can get up to 50% efficiency.

[pscot]

7. The coal will be burned regardless

We're making plans now to ship it to China, whose emissions are rising faster than ours are falling.

[Junkdrawer]

9. heavy, heavy sigh...

Of course....

[joshcryer]

6. What's interesting is that natural gas is growing faster than renewables.

Despite it being much more expensive.

[FBaggins]

8. ???

Gas is in no way more expensive than renewables... Let alone "much".

There would need to be one walloping carbon tax implemented before that would be true.

[joshcryer]

11. I thought wind was cheaper?

I probably should've said wind but that could be wrong, too.

edit: did some digging and wow was I wrong...

Oh well, now we're doubly fucked.

[Yo_Mama]

10. It's far, far cheaper

That's why it is growing so fast.

[joshcryer]

12. I was thinking of wind. Just found this which completely debunks that theory:

Wow...



You listen to the wind shills on E&E long enough you actually start believing them.