According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), carbon dioxide emissions per person from energy consumption have decreased in every state from 2005 to 2023. This change is largely attributed to a reduction in coal usage. Overall, CO2 emissions dropped by 20% during this period, despite a 14% increase in the U.S. population, leading to a 30% decline in per capita emissions.
The EIA noted that the growth of electricity generation from natural gas, which produces roughly half the CO2 emissions compared to coal, along with the rise of renewable sources like wind and solar energy, helped to counterbalance the decrease in coal-generated electricity.
Maryland and the District of Columbia saw the most significant reductions in per capita emissions, with decreases of 49% and 48%, respectively. On the other hand, emissions fell the least in Idaho and Mississippi, with just 3% and 1% reductions.
In 2023, Maryland recorded the lowest per capita CO2 emissions at 7.8 metric tons, while the District of Columbia matched its record low of 3.6 metric tons.
However, the EIA expects a 1% increase in U.S. emissions from energy consumption this year, mainly due to a rise in fossil fuel consumption for crude oil production and electricity generation.
Remarkably, in 2023, the transportation sector became the largest contributor to emissions across 28 states, contrasting with 2005 when the electric power sector was the largest emitter in 31 states. The EIA highlighted that the transition from coal to natural gas and renewable energy sources has led to a more rapid decline in emissions from the electric power sector compared to the transportation sector since 2007.