Texas takes lead in wind energy and CO2 emissions

While international powers compromised on global warming in 2009, Texas was identified as the top carbon emitting state and user of wind power.

Environment Texas analyzed 2009 U.S. Department of Energy statistics. Their report, Too Much Pollution: State and National Trends in Global Warming Emissions showed the state is contributing the most in carbon dioxide emissions in the nation, and cut pollution by two percent between 2004 and 2007.

"Texas remained the nation's number one emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use in 2007. Electricity generation and transportation are by far the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, responsible for 40 percent and 33 percent of fossil fuel related emissions, respectively, in 2007. Power plants and transportation were also the fastest-growing sources of emissions between 1990 and 2007," according to the report. "Texas has lead the nation in wind energy installations, helping to stabilize emissions from its power sector - switching from high polluting fuels such as coal and oil to cleaner sources of power."

In the international field, countries agreed to a draft accord at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen Dec. 18, 2009. The compromise aims to prevent global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius. In the draft Copenhagen Accord, countries agreed to adopt measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 50 percent by 2050, as developed countries will push toward an 80 percent reduction goal.