ALABAMA GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SINKS INVENTORY:

SUMMARY



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Alabama Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 1990

Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent





~ carbon
equivalent

Total Energy Waste

Agriculture
Sector

Industry

Land Use

The report "Inventory of Alabama Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990"
provides a detailed inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks for Alabama in
1990. Emissions were estimated using methods from EPA's 1992 guidance document
State Workbook: Methodologies for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In
1990, Alabama emitted 32.2 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE). In
addition, Alabama estimated emissions of 1.1 MMTCE from biomass fuels and from
other sources not included in the workbook. Emissions from these sources are not
included in the reported total or the table below.1,2

The principal greenhouse gas was carbon dioxide, comprising 92.3 million metric tons
(25.2 MMTCE). Other emissions included methane, with 1.2 million metric tons (6.6
MMTCE) and 0.005 million metric tons of nitrous oxide (0.4 MMTCE).

1	Note that the state of the art emission inventory method has advanced since Alabama
completed its inventory; therefore, we have made the following adjustments to Alabama's
emission estimates. First, we excluded emission estimates for sources not covered by the most
recent inventory guidance (http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/eiip/techrep.htrrtfareen). These
emissions include carbon dioxide from other biomass fuels. Second, we used updated carbon
coefficients for some fuel types. Third, we used updated values for global warming potentials.

2	In addition, the Alabama inventory estimated emissions of non-methane volatile organic
compounds, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides, which are greenhouse gases for which global
warming potentials have not yet been developed.


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Alabama Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 1990

BY SECTOR

co2

(MMTCE)

Methane
(MMTCE)

Nitrous Oxide
(MMTCE)

HFCs, PFCs,
and SF6
(MMTCE)

Total GHG
Emissions
(MMTCE)

Energy - Residential

0.9

*

*

*

0.9

Energy - Commercial

0.7

*

*

*

0.7

Energy - Industrial

8.2

*

*

*

8.2

Energy - Transport

7.8

*

*

*

7.8

Energy - Utility

13.5

*

*

*

13.5

Energy - Exported Electricity

*

*

*

*

*

Energy - Other

-1.2

4.0

0.3

*

3.1

Total Energy

29.8

4.0

0.3

*

34.1

Waste

*

1.8

*

*

1.8

Agriculture

*

0.8

0.2

*

1.0

Industry

0.7

*

*

*

0.7

Land Use

-5.4

*

*

*

-5.4

TOTAL

25.2

6.6

0.4

*

32.2

All emissions are reported in million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE).

An asterisk ( * ) indicates that emissions of the gas from this sector were zero, insignificant, or not reported.

Emissions due to coal mining and extraction of natural gas and oil are included in the energy - other
figures, and emissions from biofuel combustion are excluded.

The major source of carbon dioxide emissions was fossil fuel combustion (98%), the
majority of which is due to utility coal and transportation petroleum. Minor emissions
came from cement production, lime manufacture, and limestone use (2%). Carbon
dioxide sinks (non-fuel usage, timber stock, and other forest resources) offset about
17% of the total carbon dioxide emissions. Sources of methane emissions were coal
mining (57%), landfills (27%), domesticated animals (9%), manure management (4%),
natural gas/oil extraction (3%), fossil fuel combustion (<1%), and wastewater (<1%).
Nitrous oxide emissions were attributable to fossil fuel combustion (61%), and
agricultural soils (39%).

Alabama's high per-capita GHG emissions are largely due to the state's significant level
of coal production, and its reliance on coal for energy. Alabama mines a substantial
amount of coal (it ranks 12th in the nation for coal production), and its coal deposits
have the highest methane content in the country. Thus coal production in Alabama
results in substantial methane emissions. Coal also represents 40 percent of the state's
energy supply, compared to 23 percent for the US as a whole. Because more carbon is
emitted per unit of energy from coal than from any other fuel, Alabama's reliance on
coal results in higher GHG emissions per unit of energy than for the US as a whole.

Alabama's emissions in 1990 were 8.0 MTCE per capita, compared to 1990 U.S.
emissions of 6.4 MTCE per capita. Alabama's per capita emissions are high due to the
large volume of coal related activities in the state.


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