Proven Progress and Continued Commitment

Electric companies are world leaders in taking voluntary actions to address GHG emissions. And they lead all other industrial sectors in reducing CO₂.

The industry has twice teamed with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create voluntary, joint government-industry partnerships to address climate change. In 1994, the industry and DOE created the Climate Challenge. In 2003, building on the success of this program, a new initiative named Power Partners^SM was launched.

Power Partners^SM is achieving significant results. In 2005, the latest year for which data are available, the electric power sector undertook voluntary programs or projects that led to nearly two-thirds of all carbon-equivalent GHG reductions reported to the federal government.¹

Electric companies are reducing their GHG emissions through both individual company actions and industry-wide initiatives. They are relying on flexible programs and a robust use of available technologies.  

Today the industry is working to build on the progress that it’s made in a way that allows it to maintain an affordable and reliable supply of electricity.

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¹U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, 2005 Annual Report. Analysis by Edison Electric Institute.