Pennsylvania Emits the 4th Most Carbon Dioxide in the U.S… Discover 3 Reasons Why

Pennsylvania is one of the oldest states in the Union and has a large population and large industrial economy. Its large cities, bustling highways, and northern location add to its energy consumption. It should come as no surprise then that it is one of the biggest carbon dioxide emitters in the nation—with 213.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Pennsylvania emits the 4th most carbon dioxide in the United States. Why is this? Read on to find out more!

Emissions Fuel Sources

Coal, petroleum, and natural gas processing create carbon dioxide emissions. According to figures presented by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Pennsylvania’s transition to a greater reliance on renewable energy sources has resulted in a slight decrease in emissions, with dramatic reductions in coal and petroleum product use. Natural gas use has steadily increased as Pennsylvania has access to the Marcellus shale formation, which holds the largest reserves of any natural gas field in the U.S. This formation runs under three-fifths of Pennsylvania. Since 1999, carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas have nearly tripled, reaching 97.6 million metric tons in 2021.

Driver of Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks each state’s carbon dioxide emissions over five sectors: residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, and electric power. According to their reports on Pennsylvania, the commercial sector produces the fewest emissions, while the electric power sector produces the most.

The 3 Reasons for Pennsylvania’s Emissions Status

The residential and commercial sectors produce the fewest carbon dioxide emissions at 19.3 and 11.4 million metric tons, respectively. The remaining three sectors are why Pennsylvania ranks as the 4th most significant U.S. contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Let’s take a look at these sectors in ascending order of emissions.

Industrial Sector

Though the industrial sector is the lowest of these three, it has increased emissions since 1999. This sector had 49 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions that year. In 2021, that number had risen to 49.3 million metric tons.

Transportation Sector

In 2021, Pennsylvania’s transportation sector produced 56 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. This was down from 1999’s total of 68.1 million, which was also lower than 2005’s 72.5 million. For comparison’s sake, in 2021, California’s emissions total for transportation was 179.1 million metric tons. Vermont produced 2.9 million metric tons.

Electric Power Sector

The electric power sector is the number one driver of Pennsylvania’s carbon dioxide emissions. In 2021, Pennsylvania’s electric power production emitted 77.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is quite a large number, but it is impressive that totals for this sector are nearing those of the transportation sector. In 1999, Pennsylvania’s electric power sector generated 112.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, with 107.3 million coming from coal. In 2007, electric power emissions totaled 127.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Final Thoughts

So, while there is a complex relationship between population, industrial activity, climate, and resource availability, the three primary drivers of carbon dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania are the industrial, transportation, and electric power sectors. Of these three, the electric power sector emits far and away the most carbon dioxide.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Oleksii Liskonih