Electric utilities in the United States emitted approximately 747,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from fuel combustion in 2023 – a decrease of some 17 percent from the previous year. This accounted for more than 40 percent of SO₂ emissions in the U.S. that year (not considering wildfire emissions). SO₂ emissions from electric utilities have fallen by roughly 95 percent since 1990, primarily due to the reduced generation of electricity from coal-fired power plants.
Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023
(in 1,000 tons)
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Environmental Protection Agency. (February 9, 2024). Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 tons)." Chart. February 9, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Annual Sulfur Dioxide (So₂) Emissions from Electric Utilities in The United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Feb 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/
Environmental Protection Agency, Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from electric utilities in the United States from 1970 to 2023 (in 1,000 tons) [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, February 9, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/504390/volume-of-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-in-electric-utilities-us/
