2013 energy-related CO2 emissions expected to show rise

Emissions from coal-burning power plant (Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from 2013 to be 2 percent higher than they were in 2012, according to a release. But the agency has yet to release full figures for last year.

Officials say high demand for natural gas pushed its price higher, causing parts of the U.S. energy sector to use less of the clean fuel for electricity generation. An increased energy demand during summer caused some plants to use more coal for generation. A weak U.S. economy holding back growth in the energy sector and higher overall energy prices may also have contributed to the rise.

But officials at the agency say the emissions rise is not extreme in a larger context. The expected figures will be more than 10 percent below 2005 levels, taking them closer to reaching a 17 percent reduction goal set by the Obama Administration.

Image: Emissions from coal-burning power plant (Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)