What are the greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions factors for fuels and electricity?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes emission factors (or coefficients) for the amounts of certain gases that are released when fuels are burned, and it publishes emission factors for when electricity is generated and used. EIA publishes factors for three major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). EIA also publishes factors for the air pollutants sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Factors for the combustion of fossil fuels:

• CO2 for common fuels
• CO2 for fuels used for electricity generation  (XLS)

Factors for electricity generation:

• CO2, SO2, and NOx for electricity generated in each state for a specific year, in pounds per megawatthour, in Table 1 of State Electricity Profiles and averages for the United States
• CO2, CH4, and N2O for electricity generated in each state and U.S. Census region (These factors were used by participants in EIA's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions program.)

Factors for electricity when consumed:

• CO2, CH4, and N2O for electricity consumed in U.S. electricity market regions and in other countries (These factors were used by participants in EIA's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions program.)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can be used as a resource to find emission factors for other substances and fuels.

Last updated: April 25, 2016

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