The United States emitted 1.58 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) from electricity generation in 2021. Carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel combustion accounted for over 97 percent of this total. Meanwhile, other greenhouse gases released from fossil fuel combustion contributed to just 1.3 percent of total electricity generation emissions.
Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category
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Environmental Protection Agency. (April 26, 2023). Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 15, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. "Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category." Chart. April 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. "Distribution of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electricity Generation in The United States in 2021, by Category." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency, Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited March 15, 2025)
Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by category [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, April 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1319784/us-electricity-generation-ghg-emissions-shares-by-category/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
