Clean Energy & Global Warming In the News

Oregon’s global warming pollution increased by 41 percent since 1990, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Oregon.

For decades, America’s use of fossil fuels – and the global warming pollution that results – has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country. For Oregon, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is more frequent and severe heat waves, which will increase the number of people who suffer from heat stress and stroke. The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

For decades, America’s use of fossil fuels – and the global warming pollution that results – has been on the rise nationally and in states across the country. For Oregon, global warming means a lot of things, but the impact that is among the most concerning is more frequent and severe heat waves, which will increase the number of people who suffer from heat stress and stroke. The science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

"Too Much Pollution" uses the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy on fossil fuel consumption by state to look at trends in carbon dioxide emissions. The key findings include that Oregon’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption increased by 41 percent between 1990 and 2007; the largest increase in emissions in Oregon came from electricity generation, as the state became more reliant on coal- and natural gas-fired power plants; and nationally, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by 19 percent between 1990 and 2007.

Power plants and vehicles, the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, were responsible for the lion’s share of the increase.

In contrast to the trend in Oregon, more than one-third of the states succeeded in cutting pollution from 2004 to 2007 – before the onset of the economic recession. The initial success of these states shows that moving to clean energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions and that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side. For instance, four Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York – cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by some states by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries.

The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer. In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require coal plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified.

- Peter Wong

View the report at www.environmentoregon.org/newsroom/energy/energy-news/too-much-pollution-report-pollution-up-41-in-oregon-since-1990