Power sector carbon intensity in the U.S. 2023, by state

West Virginia had the highest power sector carbon intensity amongst all U.S. states in 2023, at 1,919 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity produced (lbs CO₂/MWh). Ranking second that year was Wyoming, which generated 1,755 lbs CO₂/MWh. In 2022, total power sector emissions in these two states were 50 and 39 MtCO₂, respectively. 

What is carbon intensity within the power sector?

The metric carbon intensity refers to the volume of CO₂ released per unit of electricity generated. It is a measure of how carbon-efficient energy generation is, and can differ greatly depending on the energy source used. For example, the carbon intensities of fossil fuels – such as coal – are higher than renewable energy sources due to the combustion process that releases CO₂.

Carbon intensity of the U.S. power sector

The carbon intensity of the U.S. power sector has been on a mostly downward trend since the turn of the century, and in 2023 fell to roughly 760 lbs CO₂/MWh. This represented a reduction of almost 43 percent from 2005 levels. This decline is attributable to several factors, such as the transition from coal to gas and the increased power generation from renewables.