CO2 Source and Emissions Map

The BSCSP estimates that the Big Sky region produces greater than 119 million metric tons of CO₂ from stationary sources annually, totaling approximately 4% of U.S. emissions. While the Big Sky region currently produces only a small fraction of U.S. CO₂ emissions, it is a key area for fossil energy development and has some of the largest population growth rates in the nation.

Eighty one percent of estimated CO₂ emissions in the Big Sky region are produced by coal-fired electric generation facilities, which produce 97 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually. Montana and Wyoming combined produce 70% of these emissions. In these two states, cement production, ethanol production and other industrial processes, such as aluminum production, emit 14 million metric tons annually, accounting for 12% of the region’s emissions.

Idaho, Oregon, and Washington contribute 28% of the region’s emissions from power generation plus cement, lime, and aluminum production. South Dakota produces 3.9 million metric tons annually from ethanol production. Unclassified sources, including diesel fuel use, production by-products from mining operations and self-contained coal and natural gas power plants for large institutions account for an additional 8 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, 6.5% of the region’s total. Mining of trona ore for soda ash, a commodity naturally-occurring in the U.S. only in Wyoming’s Green River Basin, produces 4.6 million metric tons of CO₂ annually.

Data Sources: The point locations and emissions estimates were compiled from a number of sources. Please read our Methodology document to learn more.