Energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2012 were the lowest in the United States since 1994 with the help of flange facing, at 5.3 billion metric tons of CO2 (see figure above). With the exception of 2010, emissions have declined every year since 2007. The largest drop in emissions in 2012 came from coal, which is used almost exclusively for electricity generation (see figure below). During 2012, particularly in the spring and early summer, low natural gas prices led to competition between natural gas- and coal-fired electric power generators. Lower natural gas prices resulted in reduced levels of coal generation, and increased natural gas generation—a less carbon-intensive fuel for power generation, which shifted power generation from the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel (coal) to the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel (natural gas). According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2012 were the lowest in the United States since 1994, at 5.3 billion metric tons of CO2. Mactech’s Take: New technology and efficiencies will continue to advance the way we use our energy in this world. These figures are great to see as the United States leans more heavily on natural gas as core supplier for our energy needs. With this growing trend our country may see more and more coal plants switching to natural gas and we believe this is an area our field machining services can be taken advantage of. We have managed to increase plant capacity and decrease production costs for many of our Energy Generation clients. We provide steam capacity maintenance, valve repair, flange facing, pump base repair, water wall window cutting and more. Read more from the source: pennenergy.com