The Northeast Ohio carbon footprint project is a work in progress. Presented here is a first cut of the region’s footprint. As more complete and better quality data is identified and obtained, this section will be updated and the region’s footprint refined. 
With the data collected thus far, Northeast Ohio’s carbon footprint in 2005 was 46.5 million tons of equivalent CO2 (CO2e). This equates to 15.7 tons per capita - based on a population of 2,828,553. Northeast Ohio’s per capita average is significantly lower than the 2003 state average of 24.1 tons and even the national average of 19.9 tons (Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT US) Version 2.0. Washington DC. World Resources Institute, 2008). While it looks like we're ahead of the game, it's not very likely.
The discrepancy can in part be explained by differences in the types of activities included in each analysis.Fugitive and agricultural emissions are included in the CAIT analysis, but not in the GCBL analysis. CAIT also accounts for electricity generate; we accounted for electricity consumed.
The reported mix of fuels used to generate electricity also lends to the difference in per capita emissions. FirstEnergy, which supplies 90% of the Northeast Ohio’s electricity, identified nuclear power as the source for 35% of their Ohio generation, while only 62% of their Ohio generation came from coal. The CAIT analysis however, used a power generation fuel mix with 92% coal. Coal is the most carbon intensive source of power and would account for some of the large discrepancy in the two analyses.
While these differences in the analyses do not account for all of the discrepancy, they do do account for some. GCBL will continue to search for more complete data and refine our analysis. And you can help us! The next page, "Data improvement potential", identifies the kinds of data that will help make GCBL's Northeast Ohio carbon footprint more complete and accurate. Take a look at what would help and contact us if you have access to any of the data or suggestions as to where to look or who to contact.
