Ben King

The research firm Rhodium Group estimates U.S.

greenhouse gas emissions increased 2.4 percent last year.

Ben King with Rhodium says higher natural gas prices encourage power plants to burn more polluting coal.

And in buildings, Americans turned up the heat.

King says climate pollution from transportation was flat, even though people traveled more.

That's because there are more electric vehicles and hybrids on the road.

Trump policies to boost fossil fuels and hurt renewable energy had little effect on the estimates.

Those policy changes could show up in future years.

Jeff Brady, NPR News.