Electrical Production Efficiency by State
The amount of NOx emissions for each state per unit of energy produced by that state.
State by State Comparison of Electric Generation
Overall statistics on power plant emissions, population and the amount of power generated for the lower 48 states.
State Ranking of Power Plant Efficiency
NOx Emissions per Capita
Economic Output per Ton NOX Emitted
Statewide Point Source NOx Emissions dropped 58% from 2000-2009
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), a main precursor to ozone formation, decreased substantially in Texas from 2000 to 2009. Point source NOx emissions were reduced from 796,247 tons per year (TPY) in 2000 to 336,417 TPY in 2009, a decrease of 57.75%.
Over 180,000 tons of Point Source NOX Reduced in Houston Area
In the Houston/Galveston area, one of the most comprehensively controlled industrialized complexes in the world, over 180,000 tons of ozone producing nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions have been reduced by 2009. This reduction equates to more than the total NOX emitted from all Texas power plants in 2009 (~145,000 tons).
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| NOx trend calculated as the reduction in actual point source NOX emissions from 1997, prior to implementing SIP-required controls. Baseline period for the Houston Mass Emissions Cap & Trade program for NOX was 1997 - 1999. |
Texas Leads Nation in Ozone Reduction
From 2000 to 2010, ozone levels in Texas have decreased by 27% statewide. By comparison, the rest of the nation averaged only a 14% decrease in ozone levels over this same time period.
- The eight-hour ozone design values for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria and Dallas–Fort Worth nonattainment areas have been trending downward for the 1997 eight-hour NAAQS since 2000.
- As of 2008, Beaumont–Port Arthur, San Antonio, and El Paso design values are below the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard.
- The EPA has designated the El Paso area to be in attainment of the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard.
- The EPA has redesignated the San Antonio area in attainment of the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard.
- In 2008, the TCEQ approved adoption of a redesignation request and maintenance plan for the BPA area for the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard.
Statewide Reductions in Benzene
Between 2000 and 2010, over 90 percent of benzene monitors in the state of Texas have shown a decrease in benzene, and in 2010, no benzene monitors in the state were above levels that are considered unsafe on a long-term basis. (For the last three years, all benzene monitors in Harris County were below this safe level.)
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| Benzene measurements are from hourly autoGC data if available*, otherwise every sixth day 24-hour canister data. Two representative monitors from each TCEQ Region with ten years of data are shown. Other monitors that were excluded from the figure showed similar decreasing trends and were below the long-term air monitoring comparison value. Data sets were incomplete for Webberville Rd (2000), Groves (2000, 2005, 2010), Beaumont Downtown (2007), Denton Airport South (2000), Texas City Ball Park (2000, 2001), Haden Rd (2003, 2005), Milby Park (2003, 2005, 2008), Laredo Zaragoza St Bridge (2000), Channelview (2000, 2001, 2010), Odessa Hays (2000), El Paso Chamizal (2000, 2004, 2008-2010), Deer Park (2000, 2010), Dallas Hinton St (2000-2002), and Clinton Dr (2004, 2005, 2010). Beaumont Downtown was a canister sampler from 2000-2006 and an autoGC from 2007-2010. Channelview was a canister sampler from 2000-2001 and an autoGC from 2002-2010. Milby Park was a canister sampler from 2000-2004 and an autoGC from 2005-2010. Haden Rd was a canister sampler from 2000-2002 and an autoGC from 2003-2010. |
Texas Compared to Other States
Texas has some of the most stringent emission regulations in the United States.
Texas uses the latest technology to investigate, evaluate, and improve air quality.
Texas pursues reductions in mobile source air pollution through its grant incentive and vehicle replacement programs.
The TCEQ uses sound scientific research to guide ozone regulations and, as a result, has achieved improvements in ozone concentrations statewide.
