New benchmarking report finds carbon emissions from the U.S. power sector saw an accelerated downward trend in 2023

Due to a decline in coal use, the U.S. power sector saw an 8% reduction in carbon emissions in 2023, according to a new analysis of air emissions for the country’s top 100 power producers released.  

While this decrease is a significant improvement over the marginal reduction of less than 1% in carbon emissions in 2022, 2023 emissions were only 2% lower than 2020 levels due to a surge in natural gas generation. 

The analysis titled, Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States, now in its 20th edition, examines and compares the air pollutant emissions based on 2023 power generation, plant ownership, and emissions data. These 100 producers own approximately 3,900 power plants and account for nearly 80% of the sector’s electric generation and reported air emissions.

“The electric power sector is a critical industry in the accelerating shift towards a stronger, more resilient, and cleaner economy. Our latest analysis shows that the sector continues to make progress on reducing emissions spurred on by capital investments and support from state and federal policies,” said Dan Bakal, senior program director of climate and energy at Ceres. “If the U.S. is to limit climate risk and meet our goal of cutting emissions in half by 2030, electric power companies must increase their ambition by ensuring they are accelerating capital deployment into clean energy projects. That ambition must be bolstered by bipartisan polices at all levels of government that support the necessary energy infrastructure that will lead to job creation and reduced energy costs through a modern and affordable power grid that serves all communities across the country.” 

The report found that in 2023, the U.S. power sector continued shifting toward pre-COVID trends associated with zero-emitting generation growth and the decline of coal production. However, natural gas was responsible for more electricity generation in 2023 than any preceding year and fossil sources were responsible for nearly 60% of generation. Coal generation declined to its lowest level since 1967. 

The report examines data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding four power plant pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury, and CO2. For the electric sector overall, in 2023, power plant SO2 and NOx emissions were 96% and 90% lower, respectively, than in 1990 when Congress passed major amendments to the Clean Air Act.

“Responsible for about half of America’s carbon-free energy, nuclear power helps avoid more than 440 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually that otherwise would have come from fossil fuels,” said Katie Ott, vice president of sustainability and climate strategy, Constellation. “It is essential that we preserve and expand the nation’s nuclear fleet to enhance grid reliability and protect the environment. In addition to pursuing license extensions for our clean energy centers, we’re increasing the generation output of our nuclear units and pursuing unique solutions like restarting the Crane Clean Energy Center to power critical infrastructure, such as data centers, with nuclear energy.”

“The power sector’s shift to cleaner fuels is accelerating, with reliance on coal dropping to a five-decade low" said Amanda Levin, director of policy analysis at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "But we cannot let one fossil fuel replace another. Utilities need to stop their dash to gas, and install the cleanest, safest form of energy: renewable power" 

Additional Findings:  

• This reduction in coal generation has largely been replaced by natural gas and renewable energy generation. Natural gas generation has increased by 14% since 2021 and now accounts for more than 40% of all power generation in the U.S.

• The current generation mix represents a significant shift from even just a decade ago. In 2012, coal accounted for 37% of power production, natural gas 30%, and wind and solar less than 4%. In 2023, that mix had shifted to 16% coal, 42% natural gas, and 14% wind and solar.

• In 2023, power plant SO2 and NOx emissions were 24% and 17% lower, respectively, than they were in 2022.

• In 2023, renewables and other zero-carbon resources generated approximately 41% of U.S. electricity.  

The benchmarking analysis is a collaborative effort between Ceres, Constellation Energy and NRDC. It is authored by ERM. 

About Ceres 

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org. 

About Constellation 

A Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG) is the nation’s largest producer of clean, emissions-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services to businesses, homes, community aggregations and public sector customers across the continental United States, including three fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation’s largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 16 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation’s clean energy. We are further accelerating the nation’s transition to a carbon-free future by helping our customers reach their sustainability goals, setting our own ambitious goal of achieving 100% carbon-free generation by 2040, and by investing in promising emerging technologies to eliminate carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and X. 

About ERM 

Sustainability is our business. 

 As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, deploying a unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. This approach helps clients to accelerate the integration of sustainability at every level of their business.  

With more than 50 years of experience, ERM’s diverse team of 8000+ experts in 40 countries and territories helps clients create innovative solutions to their sustainability challenges, unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.  Learn more here.    

About NRDC 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing, and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.