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U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rose 2.4% in 2025 on Heating and Power Demand

Rhodium’s preliminary estimate highlights data-center growth as a new headwind for cutting emissions.

Overview

  • Rhodium Group estimates U.S. emissions increased for the first time in two years, led by a 6.8% jump from building heating and a 3.8% rise in the power sector.
  • Electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining grew sharply, and higher natural gas prices helped drive a roughly 13% rebound in coal generation.
  • Solar output surged about 34%, lifting zero-emitting sources to roughly 42% of U.S. electricity even as coal use ticked up.
  • Emissions growth outpaced the economy, with real GDP projected to have expanded by 1.9% in 2025.
  • Rhodium says recent federal rollbacks were not yet a major factor in 2025, and it now expects 2035 emissions to be only about 26%–35% below 2005 levels.