This paper assesses OMI-measured SO₂ levels and emission burdens in northwestern China over the last decade. In contrast to widespread decline of SO₂ in eastern and southern China, the OMI remote sensing data reveal increasing SO₂ level and emissions in energy-abundant northwestern China under the national energy relocation strategy to this part of China, which are mostly from large-scale energy industry parks in northwestern China and pose a threat to the poor local ecological environment.