Mass. Ranked 13th Best State for CO2 Emissions in EPA Data Report

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Jack Andrade, GoLocal Reporter

Massachusetts produced the 13^th fewest CO2 emissions of all the United States in 2012, according to a recent study using data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Energy Administration.

The study ranks all 50 states and the top 100 power companies for their emissions of C02 and other notable, harmful pollutants The report was collaborated on by Ceres, Bank of America, the National Resources Defense Council, and several leading utilities.

The EPA is expected to institute new standards for CO2 emissions sometime in the next week, and Massachusetts and the other New England States should have a much easier time complying with upcoming standards than states that depend on producing energy as a backbone of their economy.

The Stats

Massachusetts emitted 13.6 million tons of CO2 in 2012, the 13^th fewest among the states. Massachusetts had the 12^th lowest CO2 Emission Rate in 2012, emitting 748 pounds per megawatt hour.

(See slides below for the data for all the New England states)

Texas emitted the most CO2 of any state in 2012 with 261.2 million tons. Kentucky was the state with the highest CO2 Emission Rate at 2,099 pounds per megawatt hour.

Massachusetts also had the 6^th lowest Fossil-CO2 Emission Rate at 1,011 pounds per megawatt hour. The state’s Coal-CO2 Emission Rate was 2,183 pounds per megawatt hour, 14^th lowest among states calculated.

North Dakota had the highest Fossil-CO2 Emission Rate at 2,382 pounds per megawatt hour. Mississippi had the highest Coal-CO2 Emission Rate at 2,430 pounds per megawatt hour.