Maine remains on track to fulfill goals according to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
June 10, 2024
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today released its Tenth Biennial Report on Progress Toward Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals, which provides a comprehensive analysis of Maine's greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by fuel source and economic sector. The report found that as of 2021, gross GHG emissions in Maine were 30 percent lower than 1990 levels. This surpasses the State's medium-term goal of reducing gross GHG emissions to 10 percent less than 1990 levels by January 1, 2020.
The report shows statewide gross GHG emissions increased from the initially measured levels in 1990, reaching a peak in 2002. By 2009, gross GHG emissions fell below 1990 levels, reaching a low in 2012 before rising again slightly from 2013 to 2015 and trending downward again through 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a dip in 2020 GHG emissions, followed by a slight rebound in 2021.
With continued progress in reducing gross GHG emissions, the report indicates Maine is well-positioned to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, which was added to state law in 2022. Maine also has statutory goals to reduce gross GHG emissions by 45 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050, which were signed into law by Governor Janet Mills in 2019 with bipartisan support of the Legislature.
The report also found that:
94 percent of gross GHG emissions in Maine result from energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from combustion of fossil fuels account for 65 percent of Maines 2021 gross GHG emissions. Annual energy emissions in the have been reduced by 41 percent since the high in 2002 and 30 percent since 1990.
Maine is approximately 91 percent of the way toward carbon neutrality, which means 91 percent of gross GHG emissions are offset by sequestration in the environment. This progress is primarily the result of a decrease in gross GHG emissions since 2016, an increase in carbon storage in wood products and Maine forestland since 2016, and also a recent change in the way the US Forest Service calculates carbon in the forests.
Annual CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the electric power sector have decreased by 79 percent since they peaked in 2002 largely by replacing high carbon fuels with lower carbon energy sources, primarily natural gas and renewable sources.
Total emissions from the transportation sector were 9 percent lower in 2021 than 1990; however, proportionally, the transportation sector was responsible for 49 percent of Maines CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in 2021.
Maine GHG continues to decline in relation to its gross domestic product (GDP). GHG emissions per million dollars of state gross domestic product (GDP) were 59 percent less in 2021 than in 1990. GHG emissions from energy also declined, as GHG emissions per billion Btu (BBtu) of energy consumed in Maine in 2021 were 14 percent less than the highest GHG intensity recorded in 1997.
For additional information, contact: David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner david.madore@maine.gov