First Data from Mandatory GHG Reporting Rule Released

Mandated by the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the EPA launched the GHG Reporting Program in October 2009, requiring the reporting of GHG data from large emission sources across a range of industry sectors, as well as suppliers of products that would emit GHGs if released or combusted. The first data reported under that rule has now been released to the public in an easy to use database.

The EPA’s online data publication tool allows users to view and sort GHG data for calendar year 2010, the first year data was collected under the mandatory rule, from over 6,700 facilities in a variety of ways—including by facility, location, industrial sector, and the type of GHG emitted. For example, the data set includes information on 136 GHG emitters in the state of Wisconsin.

The EPA highlighted the following statistics in its announcement of the data’s availability:

• Power plants were the largest stationary sources of direct emissions in 2010 with 2,324 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mmtCO2e), followed by petroleum refineries with emissions of 183 mmtCO2e.
• CO2 accounted for the largest share of direct GHG emissions in 2010 with 95 percent, followed by methane with 4 percent, and nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases accounting for the remaining 1 percent.
• 100 facilities each reported emissions over 7 mmtCO2e in 2010, including 96 power plants, two iron and steel mills and two refineries.

Approximately 80% of the nation’s total GHG emissions derive from the facilities in the database. The EPA will begin collecting 2011 emissions data in February, which will include data from an additional 12 industries. The reporting rule will capture 85 to 90% of all United States emissions once those industries are added.

This post was authored by GLLF staff attorney Emily Kelchen.