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Growing Energy Use Drives Up Carbon Dioxide Emissions

U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide continue to increase, according to a new report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), erasing the gains made by a reduction of about 1 percent in 2006.

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Emissions from energy use increased by 1.6 in 2007. Since 1991, emissions have increased in all but three years, according to EIA. The average increase in that time is 1 percent.

Carbon dioxide is considered a major contributor to climate change, though there are six greenhouse gases all together.

The majority of emissions come from power generation, according to EIA. Power generation was up 2.5 percent in 2007 as more energy was needed for heating and cooling, the agency says.

Despite the increase, energy intensity - a measure defined as carbon dioxide emissions per unit of economic output — fell by about .5 percent. energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic output have both fallen since 1990, EIA says.

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