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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased 6% in 2021, after a jump in economic activity and energy consumption as initial impacts of COVID-19 began to wane, according to the U.S. Energy Administration (EIA). But many U.S power utilities have pledged net-zero carbon by 2050, and their efforts to do so could keep energy-related emissions at lower levels moving forward. Industrial Info is tracking $31.4 billion worth of renewable-energy generation projects that are under construction in the U.S.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed project reports.
Energy-related emissions in 2021 totaled 4.9 billion metric tons, up from 4.6 billion metric tons in 2020. The transportation and electric-power sectors contributed most to the increase, up 11% and 7% year over year, respectively. According to the EIA, "Transportation emissions rose because of increased U.S. petroleum consumption for travel, as COVID-19-related restrictions eased. Electric power sector emissions rose because of increased electricity generation and the higher carbon intensity of electricity generation."
Click on the image at right for an EIA graph detailing U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions since 1975.
The U.S. generated 3.96 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2021, up from 3.85 million megawatt-hours in 2020.
In its May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the EIA forecasted renewable energy sources will account for 22% of total U.S. electricity generation this year and 23% in 2023--up from 20% in 2021. According to the agency, operators have planned for a total of 14.9 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity to be retired this year, with 85% of that amount coming from coal-fired plants. For more information, see Industrial Info's January 13, 2022, article - Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plant Units to Pick Up Pace this Year in U.S.
In addition to retiring coal-fired power plants, U.S. electric utilities are working toward their net-zero carbon goals by allocating capital expenditures (capex) to develop solar power, wind power and hydropower generation.
Major utilities such as Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina), Southern Company (NYSE:SO) (Atlanta, Georgia), Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) (San Diego, California) and others are pledging net-zero carbon by 2050. For more information, see May 10, 2022, article - Duke Energy Makes Moves in Greener Directions, Navigates Potential Supply Issues; May 5, 2022, article - Southern Company Defends Coal, Gas Projects as it Pushes for 'Net Zero'; and February 28, 2022, article - Sempra Energy Sets $36 Billion Five-Year Capital Plan.
Dominion Energy Incorporated (NYSE:D) (Richmond, Virginia) is at work on a $200 million Phase II addition at the Hardin Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant in Ohio. The project includes approximately 591,000 thin-film solar panels to generate 170 megawatts (MW). Completion is expected in June. Also in June, Dominion expects to complete the $130 million Amazon Arlington PV Solar Plant in Virginia, which sits on 1,200 acres, utilizing 456,000 solar panels to generate 120 MW. Subscribers to can see detailed reports on the Hardin and Amazon solar projects.
WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is at work on repowering the Crane Creek Windfarm in Riceville, Iowa, which consists of replacing 66 1.5-MW wind turbines from General Electric (NYSE:GE). Completion is expected at the end of the year. Subscribers can click here for the detailed project report. On the way to becoming "net zero" by 2050, WEC plans to reduce carbon emissions 80% by the end of 2030 from 2005 levels.
Although renewable energy projects are in full swing across the country, completions of such projects have slowed, based on information in Industrial Info's GMI database: Just 66 wind and solar projects were completed in 2021, a steep drop from 240 projects in 2019; 155 wind and solar projects were cancelled or deferred in 2021, compared with 95 in 2018. For more information, see April 21, 2022, article - Renewable Power Project Completions Slow Sharply in U.S.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the world's leading provider of market intelligence across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and all other major industrial markets. IIR's Global Market Intelligence Platform (GMI) supports our end-users across their core businesses, and helps them connect trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated project opportunities. Follow IIR on: LinkedIn.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed project reports.
Energy-related emissions in 2021 totaled 4.9 billion metric tons, up from 4.6 billion metric tons in 2020. The transportation and electric-power sectors contributed most to the increase, up 11% and 7% year over year, respectively. According to the EIA, "Transportation emissions rose because of increased U.S. petroleum consumption for travel, as COVID-19-related restrictions eased. Electric power sector emissions rose because of increased electricity generation and the higher carbon intensity of electricity generation."
Click on the image at right for an EIA graph detailing U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions since 1975.The U.S. generated 3.96 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2021, up from 3.85 million megawatt-hours in 2020.
In its May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the EIA forecasted renewable energy sources will account for 22% of total U.S. electricity generation this year and 23% in 2023--up from 20% in 2021. According to the agency, operators have planned for a total of 14.9 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity to be retired this year, with 85% of that amount coming from coal-fired plants. For more information, see Industrial Info's January 13, 2022, article - Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plant Units to Pick Up Pace this Year in U.S.
In addition to retiring coal-fired power plants, U.S. electric utilities are working toward their net-zero carbon goals by allocating capital expenditures (capex) to develop solar power, wind power and hydropower generation.
Major utilities such as Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina), Southern Company (NYSE:SO) (Atlanta, Georgia), Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) (San Diego, California) and others are pledging net-zero carbon by 2050. For more information, see May 10, 2022, article - Duke Energy Makes Moves in Greener Directions, Navigates Potential Supply Issues; May 5, 2022, article - Southern Company Defends Coal, Gas Projects as it Pushes for 'Net Zero'; and February 28, 2022, article - Sempra Energy Sets $36 Billion Five-Year Capital Plan.
Dominion Energy Incorporated (NYSE:D) (Richmond, Virginia) is at work on a $200 million Phase II addition at the Hardin Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant in Ohio. The project includes approximately 591,000 thin-film solar panels to generate 170 megawatts (MW). Completion is expected in June. Also in June, Dominion expects to complete the $130 million Amazon Arlington PV Solar Plant in Virginia, which sits on 1,200 acres, utilizing 456,000 solar panels to generate 120 MW. Subscribers to can see detailed reports on the Hardin and Amazon solar projects.
WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is at work on repowering the Crane Creek Windfarm in Riceville, Iowa, which consists of replacing 66 1.5-MW wind turbines from General Electric (NYSE:GE). Completion is expected at the end of the year. Subscribers can click here for the detailed project report. On the way to becoming "net zero" by 2050, WEC plans to reduce carbon emissions 80% by the end of 2030 from 2005 levels.
Although renewable energy projects are in full swing across the country, completions of such projects have slowed, based on information in Industrial Info's GMI database: Just 66 wind and solar projects were completed in 2021, a steep drop from 240 projects in 2019; 155 wind and solar projects were cancelled or deferred in 2021, compared with 95 in 2018. For more information, see April 21, 2022, article - Renewable Power Project Completions Slow Sharply in U.S.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the world's leading provider of market intelligence across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and all other major industrial markets. IIR's Global Market Intelligence Platform (GMI) supports our end-users across their core businesses, and helps them connect trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated project opportunities. Follow IIR on: LinkedIn.
