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Hillsborough County ranks among the nation's top 20 carbon dioxide polluters, according to a new study from Purdue University in Indiana. Hillsborough placed 18th in the nation, emitting just more than 6-million tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Some good news: that's just a third of the carbon dioxide emitted by top ranked Harris County, Texas, home of Houston. Los Angeles placed second, and Chicago's Cook County placed third. Hillsborough was the only Florida county to make the top 20. Other counties included Boston's Middlesex County, Cleveland's Cuyahoga County, and Detroit's Wayne County. The aptly named Carbon County, Pa. also made the list.
Kevin Gurney, an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric science at Purdue University and leader of the study, said, "It shows that CO2 emissions are really spread out across the country."
The study used 2002 data on other pollutants to extrapolate carbon dioxide emissions, believed to be the primary culprit behind climate change.
We reached Gurney this morning, but he was on his way to testify before the U.S. Senate, and didn't have time to explain why Hillsborough's emissions are so bad.
"Don't think of it as 'Being bad,'" Gurney said quickly. "Think of it more like a baseline, so when we improve we can measure all the reductions."
Check back later for more from Gurney on how he reached his conclusions, and how Hillsborough County vaulted itself onto the list.
[Last modified: Apr 23, 2008 11:02 AM]
Comments on this article
by Marc
Apr 23, 2008 11:02 AM
Ok yackson, time to go back to science class. Sounds like you have been listening to Fox news and Rush Limbaugh for too long. C02 definitely causes global warming, as does methane and many other gases. Moron!
by yackson
Apr 22, 2008 8:09 PM
CO2 does not cause global warming. Most of the latest science completely debunks the early theories. It's okay though. Stick to crime, sports, extertainment and car ads. CO2 discussions are best left to those who understand climate temp cycles.
by JES
Apr 22, 2008 3:27 PM
...maybe I meant BREADING...all that energy wasted on heating up the Fry Daddy and what not...
by A.H.
Apr 22, 2008 3:12 PM
To JES: mmmm, breading... like on country fried steak, right? OH, you meant BREEDING? See folks, proof of our excellent Florida school system!
by Jack
Apr 22, 2008 3:11 PM
FloriDUH!
by JES
Apr 22, 2008 2:57 PM
...maybe everyone in Hillsborough should stop BREADING. What do babies exhale? That's right, carbon dioxide. And yet, many people keep breading and buying large SUVs to dart the brats around in and build larger than necessary homes to raise the
by Anne
Apr 22, 2008 2:29 PM
Hey Garbanzo, just how high do you want your taxes? That is the only way politicians know how to fix a problem. I am already paying enough, thank you. You could stop exhaling Carbon Dioxide when you breathe, that would help.
by Marc
Apr 22, 2008 2:29 PM
If more people would sell their Hummers and Yukons and get something more economical, it would make a huge difference!
by Anne
Apr 22, 2008 2:25 PM
So I guess everyone in Hillsborough should stop breathing? What do we exhale? That's right: Carbon dioxide. This is the stupidest scam perpetrated on us yet. And yet many are buying it. Read some unbiased facts from Dr. William Gray and TH
by Jay
Apr 22, 2008 1:39 PM
Lets see because we sit in traffic for hours everyday because we will not have mass transit for 50 years.
by Garbanzo
Apr 22, 2008 1:39 PM
I would like to hear from our officials as to why they haven't done anything to get our CO2 down. This is a disgrace!
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