Industrial Decarbonization

The Clean Energy Transition Institute created two projects in 2022 to explore the opportunities and challenges of industrial decarbonization. Industry, especially “heavy” industry that produces basic materials like metals, chemicals, and cement, tends to be highly carbon intensive. Our efforts focus on making Washington a leader in clean materials manufacturing through a coordinated approach that seeks to decarbonize and strengthen the state’s manufacturing base simultaneously.

Not counting the emissions associated with the production of electricity used, the industrial sector accounts for approximately 15% of total Northwest emissions. Industrial emissions account for the following proportions of each of the four Northwest states individually: Idaho-16%; Montana-14%; Oregon-10%; and Washington-16%. (For additional analysis of the region’s emissions data, please consult our Northwest Clean Energy Atlas).