Industries producing raw materials and goods rely on diesel fuel, gasoline, natural gas, or coal to power machinery and heat furnaces.
Industrial corporations burn fossil fuels to power engines or heat furnaces, which emit CO2 into the atmosphere. They prefer these fuels because they are cost-effective, easily stored for continuous operations, and suitable for mobile machinery that cannot be connected to the electrical grid.
Oil and coal corporations themselves consume hydrocarbons throughout various stages of their operations, from excavating coal mines and drilling oil wells to processing coal, refining petroleum, leaking methane gas, and distributing coal or gas.
Clarifications on EPA’s categories referenced in the other page:
• Fossil fuels used to extract and transport gasoline, coal, or natural gas to consumers fall under this “industry” category rather than under the transportation category for trucks or trains.
• The electricity consumed by industries, sourced from power plants, is classified under the “power plant” category rather than the “industry” category.