Jefferson, Shelby, Mobile counties lead state in greenhouse gases output

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jefferson, Shelby and Mobile counties lead the state in the production of greenhouse gases, according to a newly released inventory of emissions compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The inventory consists of reports from select industries known to produce large quantities of greenhouse gases. The three counties lead the state, in part, because they are home to large coal-fired power plants.

Across the state, the plants that make power for homeowners, industries and businesses pump out 75 percent of the carbon dioxide generated by major sources.

Jefferson County also is home to U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works, which ranks eighth in the state among the major sources of greenhouse gases.

Shelby County also is home to several plants that make cement and lime. The process of making lime and cement requires high heat, typically produced by burning coal. Carbon dioxide also is formed during chemical reactions of the cement and lime production. That industrial sector is tied with metal producers as the second leading source of carbon dioxide production.

In Mobile County, Alabama Power's Barry Steam plant is the biggest greenhouse gas emitter. Mobile County's natural gas production, collection and pipeline operations make up the second leading sector.

The state of Alabama ranks No. 14 in the production of carbon dioxide per capita, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the department, 70 percent of carbon emissions come from industry and electrical production, while transportation-related emissions are estimated to produce 27 percent of carbon dioxide releases.

Ron Gore, chief of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's air division, said the state's relatively high rank is because Alabama exports electrical power, currently generating about 30 percent more than what is used in the state. Also a history of cheap and available power has drawn energy-intensive industries to the state. Finally, hot summers in the South lead to more air-conditioning use, which requires a lot of electricity.

In the atmosphere, greenhouse gases help retain heat. Scientist believe that human production of greenhouse gases, like those released through the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to a rise in global temperatures. The U.S. Global Change Research Program projects that the Southeastern United States will see continued increases in air and water temperatures during the next century, resulting in decreased water availability, higher sea-levels and increases in hurricane intensity, as well as heat-related stresses for people, plants, and animals.

However, Alabama state climatologist John Christy has criticized those projections because they are based on trends starting in the 1970s, while long-term trends in Alabama climate records show a more variable pattern.

No measures

While most states across the country have taken measures designed to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, Alabama has not. Instead, the Alabama Legislature has passed a law forbidding state agencies from taking any regulatory steps to control carbon dioxide emissions, other than what is required by federal law.

According to Gore, federal regulation of greenhouse gases applies only in the permitting process of new major sources of carbon dioxide. Those sources are required to have the most energy-efficient available technology installed. The only way to cut carbon output is to cut the energy use through efficiency. Gore said there have been some experiments in Alabama with pumping carbon dioxide underground.

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