Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Continue to Rise
The Energy Information Administration reports that in 1998, 187 U.S. companies and organizations undertook 1,507 projects aimed to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions by 212 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This adds up to approximately 3.2% of total U.S. emissions for the year. This figure is almost three times the 74 million metric tons of reductions and offsets reported in 1994, the first year of the voluntary reporting program.
The electric power sector leads the way in the program with 105 reporters. These include nearly all of the largest generating utilities in the United States, encompassing such projects as improved plant efficiencies, cogeneration, use of non-fossil fuels, and demand-side management programs that reduce power use by their customers.