Connecticut lowered its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, and has made progress toward a further 10 percent reduction, according to a state report required by federal law.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the state is likely to complete the 10 percent reduction below 1990 levels in the next few years. The reduction is mandated by the federal Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, which also requires the state to report every three years on its progress.
The progress, DEEP wrote, has been driven in part by significant emission reductions in the electric power industry. The industry reduced its emissions from 11.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to 7.7 million metric tons between 1990 and 2010, according to the report.
But the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas in the state — transportation — grew its emissions over that period, from 15.6 million metric tons to 16.6 million metric tons. However, the 2010 number was down from 2001, when it was 17.8 million metric tons.
The report said that getting more electric cars on the road, among other measures, will help bring that number down.
