The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) emissions reported by the power plants sector decreased significantly from 2011 to 20212022, from 2,222 million metric tons (MMT) CO₂e in 2011 to 1,589 585 MMT CO₂e in 20212022, a decrease of 28.5%7%. This overall decrease in emissions resulted from longer-term trends related to changes in the composition of fuels used in electricity generation and an increase in renewable electricity generation. Reported emissions for 2022 only decreased by 0.8% from 2021. In comparison, emissions increased by 6.3% from 9% between 2020 and 2021. The annual increase in emissions observed in 2021 resulted from the increased demand for electricity generation during 2021 as the economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2011 through 2021For the period 2011 to 2022, national net generation of electricity remained consistent with an increase of 0.4%, including a 2.6% increase between 2020 and 2021increased by 3.5%, and increased by 3.2% between 2021 and 2022. [1, 2] This year-over-year increase in net generation follows a decrease of 2.9% between 2019 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020. Although the national net generation of electricity has remained consistent relatively constant from 2011 to 20212022, the GHG emissions per unit of electricity generation decreased from 541.9 to 386385.1 8 MT CO₂e per thousand megawatt-hours (MWh), a 29% drop. Several factors contributed to this reduction in emissions per unit of electricity generated, including the increased use of generation from renewable energy sources and more electric power generation from natural gas combustion, and a corresponding decrease in generation from coal. [3] In 2011, 42.3% of U.S. electricity was generated from coal and 24.7% from natural gas; but by 2021, 21.8% 2022 these values had changed significantly, with 19.5% of electricity was generated from coal and 3839.3% 8% from natural gas. Over the same timeframe, electricity generated from utility-scale renewable sources increased from 124.5% 7% to 20.1%15.3% of total power plant generation. [1, 2] Electricity The observed changes in GHG emissions are due to the fact that electricity generated from renewable energy results in no GHG emissions from the power plants; plant sector, and because generation from natural gas, particularly in gas—particularly more efficient combined-cycle generators, produces lower greenhouse gas generators—produces lower GHG emissions per unit of electricity generated than generation from coal. [4]

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[1]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All Sectors), 2011- June 2021 2023 (accessed September 1725, 20212023) at: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_1_01annual/html/epa_03_01_a.html

[2]     U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All Sectors), 20122013- June 2022 2023 (accessed September 1925, 20222023) at: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_1_01

[3]     Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-20202021. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 20222023. EPA 430-R-2223-003002. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020

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