The most abundant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, a natural byproduct of respiration, but also a product of fossil fuel combustion and a major contributor to global climate change. Below is a list of the top states in terms of carbon dioxide production from fossil fuel combustion in 2011. This compilation does not include carbon dioxide emissions coming from non-combustion industrial processes, agriculture, waste, or land use, as they are much more complicated to estimate.


All estimates are in metric tons.

1. Texas: 680 million tons. Top sectors: Electric power & industrial. Texas is the number one producer because of its large oil extraction and refining industry. Processing oil produces a lot of carbon dioxide. It is also a very populous state who uses coal- and natural gas-fired power plants to provide electricity. Texas’ carbon emissions are more than the next two states combined, but it has seen the largest absolute decline since 2000.
2. California: 360 million tons. Top sector: Transportation. California’s large population relies heavily on gasoline and diesel power to move people and products across this vast state. Agricultural is one of California’s primary economic activity, and agricultural products are almost exclusively transported within and out of the state by truck.
3. Pennsylvania: 247 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state with a large population, producing electricity with coal-fired plants, but also with a quickly growing network of lower emissions natural gas plants. Another very large fraction of electricity in Pennsylvania is produced by nuclear power plants.

1. Ohio: 237 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state with a large population, producing electricity with coal-fired plants, although the recent gradual switch to natural gas plants is decreasing emissions.
2. Florida: 231 million tons. Top sectors: Transportation & electric power. A state with a large population, producing electricity with natural gas power plants, and relying on cars for transportation.
3. Illinois: 231 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state relying on coal power plants for much of its electricity.
4. Louisiana: 215 million tons. Top sector: Industrial. Louisiana has many crude oil refineries and natural gas processing plants, accounting for much of its carbon emissions.
5. Indiana: 208 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. This Midwestern state relies on coal power plants for much of its electricity.
6. New York: 166 million tons. Top sector: Transportation. New York has the third largest population size in the country, and transportation of people and products keep it in the top 10. Some reliance on hydroelectric and nuclear power keeps the contribution of fossil-fuel power plants down.
7. Michigan: 160 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A populous state relying on coal power plants for much of its electricity.
8. Georgia: 156 million tons. Top sectors: Transportation & electric power. Georgia’s ranking is mostly influenced by its large population and its fossil fuel power plants.
9. Kentucky: 148 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state relying on coal power plants for much of its electricity.
10. Missouri: 136 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state relying on coal power plants for much of its electricity.
11. Alabama: 130 million tons. Top sector: Electric power. A state relying on coal power plants for much of its electricity, although the proportion coming from nuclear energy is almost as great.

When taking into consideration population size, energy producers Wyoming and North Dakota lead the pack in carbon emissions per capita. While not among the top producers, both Nebraska and Colorado have seen the largest net increase in carbon dioxide emissions between 2000 and 2011.

It is clear from the data presented here that energy production through the use of fossil fuels like coal is responsible for a very important portion of the United States’ overall carbon dioxide emissions. A recent modification of the Clean Air Act proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency seeks to significantly reduce these emissions.

Sources

Environmental Protection Agency. State Energy CO2 Emissions.

Environmental Protection Agency. State Electricity Profiles.