US energy revolution hits historic milepost

New York

THE United States passed another historic marker in its energy revolution this year. In February, US transportation emitted more carbon dioxide than the fossil-fuel-heavy power sector for the first time since 1978. Overall, the US has seen a 25 per cent drop in carbon-dioxide emissions since 2008, the Department of Energy said, a function of the rise of natural gas and smarter energy use.

Why this should happen now is a function of several different market forces. First, low petrol prices have encouraged Americans to drive more, increasing CO2 pollution from tailpipes. Second, natural gas has eclipsed coal as the leading fuel for electricity producers. That development, reinforced by Environmental Protection Agency regulation, has led to a historic bust for US coal, which is a much more carbon-intensive fuel than natural gas.