Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, counting the emissions from fuel consumption only, vary significantly across states, with Texas and California registering the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with 652.6 million metric tons (mmt) and 369.8 mmt respectively in 2010, according to a survey by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Both states had emissions declines between 2000 and 2010: Texas dropped by 8.3% and California by 3%. The total aggregation of emissions by the states dropped 4.2% in the decade, from 5,879.9 mmt to 5,631.3 mmt.

Between 2000 and 2010, CO2 emissions fell in 32 states and rose in 18 states, EIA said. However, from 2009 to 2010, “only 14 states saw a decrease in emissions, as the United States was rebounding from the recession and energy consumption increased in most states, along with emissions.”

The EIA data shows that the overall size of a state, as well as the available fuels, types of businesses, climate, and population density, play a role in both total and per capita emissions. Some states with a large proportion of hydroelectric or nuclear power or lower population showed less emissions compared to others, while predominantly coal dependent states or states with heavy industry saw more emissions from fossil fuel consumption than non-industrial states.

California, heavily populated and overloaded with automobiles, registered 65.2% of its emissions from petroleum and 57.9% from the transportation sector. New York, which has extensive mass transit, had just 53.3% of emissions coming from petroleum, with 39.8% in the transportation sector. Texas had 48.7% of emissions from petroleum, but split the production of emissions more equally among electric power production (33.8%), industrial use (32.4%) and transportation (29.9%).

Natural gas was responsible for 28% of Texas’ emissions, 33.4% of California’s and 37.6% of New York’s.

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