"EIA: Carbon Emissions From Power Plants Lowest Since 1991"

"Carbon dioxide emissions from the U.S. power sector fell through the first half of 2016 to their lowest level in 25 years, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday.

The drop comes amidst a long-term shift away from coal to natural gas and ever increasing levels of wind turbines and solar panels across the country’s electrical grid. Also, a particularly mild winter – the warmest since at least 1949, EIA said – meant less need for heating systems and thus less electricity demand.

The fall off from the power industry comes as greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks ticked up in recent years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, emissions from the transportation sector rose 2 percent between 2012 and 2014 – the most recent year for which data was available."

James Osborne reports for FuelFix October 12, 2016.