Chemical plant on Escambia River is nation’s largest emitter of nitrous oxidebut but has failed to meet its pledge to reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas

Inside Climate News reports that a chemical plant on the Escambia River that is among the nation’s 25 top greenhouse gas emitters has failed to adequately reduce emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas many times more potent than CO2. Similar but smaller chemical plants in Europe and Asia remove nitrous oxide using a technology that is relatively inexpensive.

The Ascend Performance Materials plant north of Florida Power and Light’s Gulf Clean Energy Center–formerly Plant Crist–emits more than five times the volume of nitrous oxide as any other US plant. The plant produces a type of nylon used in carpeting, running shoes, polyurethane and other products.

A Florida Chemical Plant Has Fallen Behind in Its Pledge to Cut Emissions of a Potent Greenhouse Gas