Contribution of Natural Gas to U.S. CO2 Emission Reductions Since 2007 Greater than Proposed

Our recent study1 quantified the drivers of US CO2 emissions between 1997 and 2013, with particular focus on the decline in emissions after 2007. Based on our findings, we argued that economic recession was more important than substitution of natural gas for coal in the power sector. In their comment, Kotchen and Mansur2 reevaluate and reinterpret our results to challenge this conclusion. Because their calculations, using two alternative methods, are consistent with our findings, here we respond to their alternative interpretation