U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from coal, oil and natural gas consumption should rise 1.5 percent this year as the economy recovers from the worst recession since the Great Depression, the Energy Information Administration said today.

Emissions should increase 1.2 percent in 2011 from 2010 levels because of ¡°

increased use of coal in the electric power sector and continued economic growth,¡± the EIA said in its March Short-term Energy Outlook.

The EIA¡¯s projection for 2011 growth in carbon dioxide emissions is lower than last month¡¯s estimate of 1.3 percent. Its 2010 estimate is unchanged.