EPA reveals local greenhouse gas emissions

IN Rhode Island, six power plant facilities were the largest sources of greenhouse gas emission, 3,184 kMT C02e, followed by one landfill facility, 222 kMT CO2e, and the three government and commercial facilities, 113 kMT CO2e.  / COURTESY EPA
IN Rhode Island, six power plant facilities were the largest sources of greenhouse gas emission, 3,184 kMT C02e, followed by one landfill facility, 222 kMT CO2e, and the three government and commercial facilities, 113 kMT CO2e. / COURTESY EPA

WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency debuted its greenhouse gas reporting program on Thursday, including the 2010 emissions by 12 organizations in Rhode Island.

The website includes data on greenhouse gases, which the EPA defines as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, PFC-14, PFC-116 and HFC-23.

The data is directly reported from more than 6,700 facilities nationwide and shows that, in 2010, power plants were the largest stationary sources of direct emissions. Carbon dioxide accounted for the largest share – 95 percent – of direct GHG emissions; 100 facilities reported emissions in excess of 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e).

“Thanks to strong collaboration and feedback from industry, states and other organizations, today we have a transparent, powerful data resource available to the public,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

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“The GHG Reporting Program data provides a critical tool for businesses and other innovators to find cost- and fuel-saving efficiencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster technologies to protect public health and the environment.”

In Rhode Island, six power plant facilities were the largest sources of greenhouse gas emission, 3,184 kMT C02e, followed by one landfill facility, 222 kMT CO2e, and the three government and commercial facilities, 113 kMT CO2e.

FLPE Rhode Island State Energy LP was the state’s largest emitter – 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – while Pawtucket Power Associates LP stood at the other end of the list, with 25,457 MT CO2e.

The other 10 Rhode Island greenhouse gas emitters include:

  • Manchester Street, Providence – 873,409 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
  • Tiverton Power, Tiverton – 437,909 MT CO2e.
  • Ocean State Power, Harrisville – 327,846 MT CO2e.
  • R.I. Resource Recovery Corporation, Johnston – 222,342 MT CO2e.
  • Toray Plastics (America) Inc., North Kingstown – 55,864 MT CO2e.
  • Rhode Island Hospital, Providence – 49,518 MT CO2e.
  • U.S. Navy Naval Station, Newport – 32,369 MT CO2e.
  • Brown University,(Main Campus) Providence – 31,070 MT CO2e.
  • Burrillville, Pascoag – 30,853 MT CO2e.
  • Pawtucket Power Associates LP, Pawtucket – 25,457 MT CO2e.

The GHG reporting Program was launched in October 2009, requiring reporting of greenhouse gas data from “large emission sources,” including suppliers of products that would emit GHGs if released or combusted. An additional 12 sources categories will beign reporting their 2011 GHG data this year, the EPA said.

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