Is your home state on the list of those with the largest carbon footprint? Find out below, and learn where the carbon dioxide is coming from.
Michigan
The Great Lakes State, the home of Motor City, Michigan releases 150 MMT (Million Metric Tons), or just under 3 percent of total national CO2 emissions. This comes from the following sources: 42% Electricity Generation, 30% Transportation, 11% Industry, 11% Residential, and 6% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 39% Coal, 33% petroleum, and 28% Natural Gas.
New York
The United States’ tallest building and the United Nations headquarters are located in New York, as are the sources of 154 MMT per year of CO2, or 3 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 43% Transportation, 21% Electricity Generation, 20% Residential, 14% Commercial, and 4% Industrial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 53% Petroleum, 43% Natural Gas, and 4% Coal.
Indiana
The childhood home of President Abraham Lincoln, and the location of a certain 500 mile motor race, the state of Indiana releases 192 MMT, or a little under 4 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 52% Electricity Generation, 22% Industrial, 21% Transportation, 4% Residential, and 2% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 59% Coal, 24% Petroleum, and 18% Natural Gas.
Louisiana
The centerpiece in a land purchase that doubled the size of the United States over 200 years ago, Louisiana releases 212 MMT, or just over 4 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 57% Industrial, 21% Transportation, 20% Electricity Generation, 1% Commercial, and 1% Residential.The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 50% Petroleum, 39% Natural Gas, and 11% Coal.
Illinois
The latest winners of the Stanley Cup call Illinois home, as do 212 MMT of CO2 each year, just over 4 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 40% Electricity Generation, 29% Transportation, 16% Industrial, 10% Residential, and 5% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 43% Coal, 34% Petroleum, and 23% Natural Gas.
Ohio
Home of the Buckeyes, the NFL Hall of Fame, and Cleveland, Ohio releases 213 MMT yearly, or just over 4 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 44% Electricity Generation, 28% Transportation, 16% Industrial, 7% Residential, and 5% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 45% Coal, 34% Petroleum, and 21% Natural Gas.
Florida
The sunshine state, Florida, produces lots of oranges as well as 218 MMT of CO2 each year, over 4% of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 49% Electricity Generation, 44% Transportation, 4% Industrial, 2% Commercial, and 1% Residential. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 46% Petroleum, 33% Natural Gas, and 21% Coal.
Pennsylvania
The birthplace of American independence, Pennsylvania, also gives birth to 233 MMT of CO2 annually, making up almost 5% of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 46% Electricity Generation, 25% Transportation, 17% Industrial, 7% Residential, and 4% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 44% Coal, 32% Petroleum, and 24% Natural Gas.
California
Known for its movie studios and widespread droughts, California releases 345 MMT of CO2 per year, nearly 7 percent of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 55% Transportation, 18% Industrial, 14% Electricity Generation, 8% residential, and 5% Commercial. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 61% Petroleum, 38% Natural Gas, and 1% Coal.
Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, including CO2 emissions volume which, at 656 MMT yearly, is nearly double that of the next state, and accounts for almost 13% of total national emissions. This comes from the following sources: 34% Industrial, 34% Electricity Generation, 28% Transportation, 2% Commercial, and 2% Residential. The fuel used to produce this CO2 is 46% Petroleum, 32% Natural Gas, and 22% Coal.
All data is attributed to the United State Energy Information Administration, whose most recent release listed 2012 total national carbon dioxide at 5,153 million metric tons (MMT)
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