['Air Programs']
['Greenhouse Gases']
10/03/2024
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Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Scope
EPA addresses the reduction of man-made emissions of greenhouse gases through various programs, including pre-construction permitting and operating permits. EPA also inventories greenhouse gas emissions from the largest sources in the U.S. through the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
Regulatory citations
- 40 CFR 98 — Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting
Key definitions
- Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e): The number of metric tons of CO2 emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another greenhouse gas, and is calculated using Equation A–1 of this subpart.
- Carbon dioxide stream: Carbon dioxide that has been captured from an emission source (e.g. a power plant or other industrial facility) or extracted from a carbon dioxide production well plus incidental associated substances either derived from the source materials and the capture process or extracted with the carbon dioxide.
- Carbon share: The percent of total mass that carbon represents in any product
- CH4: Methane.
- CO2: Carbon dioxide.
- Continuous emission monitoring system or CEMS: The total equipment required to sample, analyze, measure, and provide, by means of readings recorded at least once every 15 minutes, a permanent record of gas concentrations, pollutant emission rates, or gas volumetric flow rates from stationary sources.
- Emergency generator: A stationary combustion device, such as a reciprocating internal combustion engine or turbine that serves solely as a secondary source of mechanical or electrical power whenever the primary energy supply is disrupted or discontinued during power outages or natural disasters that are beyond the control of the owner or operator of a facility. An emergency generator operates only during emergency situations, for training of personnel under simulated emergency conditions, as part of emergency demand response procedures, or for standard performance testing procedures as required by law or by the generator manufacturer. A generator that serves as a back-up power source under conditions of load shedding, peak shaving, power interruptions pursuant to an interruptible power service agreement, or scheduled facility maintenance shall not be considered an emergency generator.
- Flare: A combustion device, whether at ground level or elevated, that uses an open flame to burn combustible gases with combustion air provided by uncontrolled ambient air around the flame.
- Hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs: A class of GHGs consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
- Industrial greenhouse gases: Nitrous oxide or any fluorinated greenhouse gas.
Summary of requirements
- Large stationary sources in 41 industrial categories covered under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program need to track their greenhouse gas emissions and report them to EPA every year.
- Suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions are required to submit annual reports to EPA.
- Stationary sources that are already covered by preconstruction, operating permits, or other air permits may also need to include greenhouse gas emissions in their permitting calculations.
- If you are unsure whether your business must report under the GHGRP, you can use EPA’s online Applicability Tool at www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/help/tool/index.html. The tool is designed to help assess whether a stationary source must comply with the GHGRP.
- To report GHG data, facilities must use EPA’s Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT). Before using e-GGRT, reporters must register as users at ghgreporting.epa.gov.
- Annual GHG reporting must be submitted no later than March 31 of each calendar year for the GHG emissions in the previous calendar year.
- The GHGRP Data and Data Publication Tool allows users to view and sort GHG data from GHG reporting facilities by location, industrial sector, and the type of GHG emitted.
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