Power plant emissions not a problem here as in US

[SINGAPORE] Singapore and the US have very different starting points in terms of carbon emission levels in their respective power sectors, Singapore's energy regulator said, in response to the latest US proposal to crack down on the industry there.

The Republic embarked on its "house cleaning" of the pollutive power sector earlier, with gencos here switching from oil-fired power plants to more-efficient and environmentally-friendly gas-firing plants which today account for over 90 per cent of electricity here.

"Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and produces the least amount of carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated amongst fossil fuel-fired power plants. By increasing the share of natural gas used in electricity generation, from less than 20 per cent in 2000 to above 90 per cent today, we have substantially reduced our emissions growth for the power sector," an Energy Market Authority spokesperson said.