The nine most polluting U.S. power plants released nearly 126 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, more than the emissions from 33 individual states in 2021. This information comes from a new analysis by Frontier Group, Environment America Research and Policy Center, and U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
The study shows that the top 50 polluting U.S. facilities collectively emitted 472 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2022, which is more than any state except Texas. Of these top polluters, 45 are power plants burning coal or methane gas.
Newly finalized rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry plans to retire some highly polluting coal plants could lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
“It’s 2024. We no longer have to choose between keeping the lights on and protecting the environment. We have the technology to power our lives without trading away our health and a stable climate,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America Research and Policy Center. “Despite that, a small number of big polluters are still treating the air we all breathe like their sewer. It’s time for these power plants to clean up their act.”
Among the top 50 polluters are five industrial facilities such as ExxonMobil's refinery and chemical plant complex in Baytown, Texas, which produced 12.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2022—equivalent to annual emissions from three million cars—and is also a major source of harmful air pollution.
“Exxon’s Baytown complex is already one of the dirtiest factories in America, but Texas regulators just signed off on allowing even more harmful emissions from the oil giant,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas Research and Policy Center. “We need the EPA to put a stop to Exxon’s reckless pollution.”
Coal-fired electricity generation is declining while renewable energy sources surpassed coal's share of electricity generation in the U.S. for the first time in 2022. Seven out of the top 50 polluting power plants have planned retirement dates between now and 2038.
“Climate change is a big problem, but our analysis shows that by targeting a relatively small number of facilities the nation can achieve major pollution reductions,” said Elizabeth Ridlington, senior policy analyst with Frontier Group. “The sooner these plants are powered down the better for our health and the planet. Clean energy such as wind, solar and geothermal can meet all our electricity needs.”
The EPA's rules finalized in April will further limit pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants; one rule requires existing coal-fired power plants to control 90 percent of their carbon pollution by 2039. However, these new rules do not cover existing natural gas power plants—the largest current source of carbon pollution in the electricity sector.
