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U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION Participation Up in Voluntary Program To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Participation in the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program increased by 31 percent in 1996, the second year of the program. More than 140 participants reported some 967 individual projects to reduce or offset emissions of greenhouse gases in the most recent reporting cycle of this U.S. Government initiative to promote voluntary approaches to environmental protection. Greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halogenated substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), absorb infrared energy and prevent it from leaving the atmosphere. Increasing levels of these gases in the atmosphere may contribute to an increase in average global temperatures resulting in adverse climate changes. The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, is part of U.S. Government efforts to develop innovative, low-cost, and nonregulatory approaches to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. The Program affords an opportunity for any organization or individual to establish a public record of emissions, emission reductions, or sequestration achievements in a national, publicly available database. Participants may report any activity that reduces or offsets greenhouse gas emissions. Offsetting emissions typically involves sequestering carbon by growing trees, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. EIA's summary of second year program results, Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Voluntary Reporting, released today, discusses emission reduction activities undertaken by companies and other organizations during 1995. These projects reduced or offset emissions by a reported 184 million metric tons in 1995. Electric utilities continued to be major participants in the program, with 115 electric utilities filing reports, including 23 of the top 25 generating utilities in the United States. These utilities reported projects such as improved plant efficiencies, cogeneration, use of non-fossil fuels such as nuclear power, and demand-side management programs that reduce power use by their customers. Other reported projects cover a spectrum of approaches to emissions reductions, and include such activities as methane recovery projects at landfills, as well as urban forestry and worldwide tree planting projects. One company reported a project that reduced vehicle emissions by using video conferencing to reduce travel between the company's various locations. Two aluminum producers reported reductions in fugitive emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs), the halogenated substances that are a byproduct of the aluminum smelting process. Several utilities reported carbon dioxide emission reductions resulting from the reuse of fly ash as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete. By creating a readily accessible record of efforts to reduce emissions, the voluntary reporting program supports the exchange of information on the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and helps to inform the public debate about activities aimed at reducing or offsetting emissions. Participants in the program gain recognition for environmental stewardship while demonstrating their support for voluntary approaches to achieving environmental policy goals. Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Voluntary Reporting is available electronically on EIA's Internet Web Site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vr96rpt/home.htm. Printed copies are available through EIA's National Energy Information Center, 202-586-8800 or via e-mail at infoctr@eia.doe.gov. EIA's Information Center is located in Room 1F-048, Forrestal Building, Washington, DC 20585. EIA has compiled a database of 1995 emission reduction activities reported by program participants during 1996. The database is available on CD-ROM, and requires Microsoft Windows. To obtain the database or reporting forms for 1997, which allow for reporting on emissions reductions achieved in 1996 and prior years, contact EIA at 1-800-803-5182 or via e-mail at infoghg@eia.doe.gov.
EIA Program Contact: Stephen Calopedis, 202/586-1156 EIA-97-31 Contact:
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