The amount of greenhouses gases emitted by New England’s power plants dropped 21 percent from 2001 to 2012, according to electric grid administrator ISO New England.
Total emissions went from 52,250.74 thousand tons in 2001 to 42,011.93 in 2012. The biggest reduction came from sulfur dioxide emissions, which dropped 92 percent. Meanwhile, nitrogen oxides dropped 66 percent, and carbon dioxide – which represent the majority of greenhouse gases in New England generation – decreased 21 percent.
The main reason for the reduction in emissions was the rise of more natural gas power plants and the decline of those fueled by coal and oil. Specifically, power generated by coal plants dropped 48 percent over the time period.
ISO also contributed the decline to better emissions controls at power facilities and the decrease in demand for electricity in 2012 compared to 2011, because of a milder winter and summer.
