Cleaner air: great progress has been made, even as demand for electricity increases.

The U.S. electric power sector has reduced air emissions substantially under existing programs. The industry has cut sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X) emissions by 57 percent emissions between 1980 and 2008. Electricity use increased 85 percent during this time period.

The power sector also has cut emissions of mercury by about 40 percent through efforts to reduce other pollutants.  The electric power industry has achieved these reductions despite enormous increases in electricity generation (75 percent since 1980).