U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Fuel Type, 2006
Fast Facts About Energy
A web extra from Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson, authors of
"Who Turned Out The Lights? Your Guided Tour to the Energy Crisis"
"Who Turned Out The Lights? Your Guided Tour to the Energy Crisis"
The three main fossil fuels all play a role in producing greenhouse gases, but some have a larger role than others. Petroleum has the largest role, and since almost all of our oil is used for transportation, this mostly comes from driving. Coal, by contrast, is used primarily for generating electricity, while natural gas is used for both electricity and home heating. Natural gas is the cleanest of the three, producing 60 percent less carbon dioxide that coal.
