California Power Generation Carbon Emissions Slid 22% in 2011

[wtmusic]

"Carbon emissions from power generation in California tumbled 22 percent in 2011, countering increases from other industrial sources and helping drive statewide plant emissions down 5.6 percent.

Emissions from California’s electricity generation sector fell to 34.9 million metric tons in 2011 from 44.6 million in 2010, data posted on the state Air Resources Board’s website show. Total reported emissions were 111 million metric tons, down from 117.6 million. The emissions are from stationary sources only.

The reductions “reflect decreases from California electricity emissions due to increased renewable generation (increased hydro, solar, wind and nuclear generation) and a decrease in consumption,” the air board said in its report."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-12/california-power-generation-carbon-emissions-slid-22-in-2011.html

[Nederland]

1. It would be interesting to see a breakdown

I wonder where the biggest increases came from.

[wtmusic]

2. From the article:

"Emissions reported by cement plants, oil refineries, oil and gas producers and other industries rose. Pollution from oil and gas production jumped by the most, rising 21 percent to 12.6 million metric tons. "

Fossil fuels just suck.

[Nederland]

3. More interested in the renewables data

i.e., how much of the increases came from wind versus solar, nuclear and hydro...

I've started to poke around to find the data, but if someone else finds it please post.

[wtmusic]

4. This might be what you're looking for

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/total_system_power.html

Earlier years at links below, for comparison

[Nederland]

8. Thanks

Found one at the same site with year to year history. Looks like the big increases came from hydro and nuclear.

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/electricity_generation.html

[wtmusic]

10. Wouldn't be surprised to see an uptick for 2012

since San Onofre was closed for most of the year.

[jpak]

5. Sorry - nuclear is not "renewable"

yup

[NYC_SKP]

6. Some of this is due to the decline in economic activity.

But it's still good news!

[wtmusic]

9. True, although in-state generation only dropped by 2%

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/electric_generation_capacity.html