Carbon dioxide emissions from the United States’ electric power sector rose by 4%, or 58 million metric tons, in 2025, due to growth in electricity generation and coal use, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a report Tuesday.
Total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions increased by 2%, or about 115 million metric tons, over the same period, compared with 2024.
“Net generation in the electric power sector increased by 3%, or 12 terawatthours (TWh), in 2025, surpassing 2024’s record annual generation,” the report said. “Hot summer weather, which led to increased demand for space cooling and record summer peak electricity demand, and growth in electricity demand from data centers and manufacturing facilities both contributed to increased generation.”
Coal-fired electricity generation increased by 13%, raising coal-related CO2 emissions by 78 MMmt, it said. Natural gas-fired generation decreased by 4%, lowering emissions by 23 MMmt, while wind and solar generation rose by 3% and 34%, respectively, which helped to curb the increases from power generation.
“Emissions increases in the industrial and transportation sectors were small, with energy efficiency gains and switches to less carbon-intensive fuels curbing growth,” it said.
