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There are some places in the United States that pride themselves on being environmentally conscious: San Francisco, Boston, Seattle to name a few. Even New York and Los Angeles with their burgeoning and quick-turnover populations have maneuvered their communities towards greener goals. Which state is the biggest emitter of carbon? I'll even give you one hint. Everything is bigger in this state.
Nope. It's not Montana. It's Texas. In 2007, The Lone Star State sent over 1 ½ trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. That's enough pollution to block out all the stars. If Texas were its own country, it would be the seventh largest polluter in the world. The United States might even fall into second place if Texas seceded from the nation. So get out, Texas. Ha ha, just kidding. I love your state and your big hats and your Nolan Ryan and your Lone Star Beer and your Dallas Cowboys and your steer meat.
Supposedly green California and Pennsylvania are the next two largest offenders. Both states have been making cutbacks but they haven't cutback enough. Neither of them even come close to Texas.
Sparsely populated Wyoming is actually high on the list. It's the biggest eco-offender per person. That place is out of control. Wyoming pumps out more carbon in eight hours than Vermont does in a year. I think Wyoming is acting up to get attention. In Wyoming's defense, they are the largest exporter of coal power in the nation. Wyoming is kind of getting scapegoated a little bit.
However, Idaho, a state famous for potatoes and having weird borders, produces a measly 23,000 pounds a year. Way to go, Idaho. Or should I say "way to go, Steve, Laura and Mark."
Coal is the reason that these states produce so much carbon pollution. Coal plants produce half of the electricity in the United States. Some states are beginning to shun coal, but until we can make states like Wyoming and Texas get with the program, the US will remain a CO2 polluter of epic proportions.
Think you're a green expert? Does your green lifestyle need some tweaks? Watch the exciting green game show hosted by Tom Green, Go for the Green.
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