Methane Clips: February 15, 2023

 

‘Orphan Wells,' Methane Major Pollution Concern For Ohio's Water, People And Animals. According to the Columbus Dispatch, “Methane set a record for the second year in a row, scientists reported, just as the United Nations’ panel on climate change warned the world is running out of time to rein in fossil fuel emissions. In 2021, methane — the second largest contributor to the human-caused climate crisis after carbon dioxide—saw its largest increase since measurements began nearly 40 years ago. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new draft rules on methane emissions in November 2022, aimed at cutting methane and other harmful pollutants from oil and gas operations across the nation. While a critical step forward, more must be done to finalize the strongest protections possible. Leaks from oil and gas wells are common sources of methane pollution.” [Columbus Dispatch, 2/15/23 (=)]

 

Elected Officials: EPA Should Work To Reduce Methane Pollution. According to In Forney, “A group of lawmakers is urging the EPA to show the Keystone State support by enacting strong, comprehensive methane regulation standards. Pennsylvania’s oil and gas companies emit more than 1.1-million tons of methane annually, and Elected Officials to Protect America believes the EPA’s new proposal to reduce methane emissions in oil and gas development should be tougher. Joel Hicks, a Carlisle Borough Councilmember, suggested the agency eliminate routine flaring, the process of burning rather than capturing methane, and strictly limit it to instances when it is necessary for safety or maintenance.” [In Forney, 2/14/23 (=)]

 

Opinion: To Regulate Methane Emissions, Colorado Needs Clear Data. According to the Colorado Sun, “Greenhouse gas reporting from upstream oil and gas production isn’t new; it’s been required in the United States and Canada since 2010. The long-accepted method of understanding these emissions from industrial sources is a well-established process based on estimates. But recent academic studies have cast doubt on the accuracy of this approach. Now, regulatory agencies are moving towards measuring and moving away from estimating emissions. Yet simply collecting data on methane is not enough. We need to understand the context of where measurements are taken from production operations, what the limitations of new measurement technologies are, and how to use data to tell an accurate and actionable story.” [Colorado Sun, 2/15/23 (+)]

 

These Startups Hope To Spray Iron Particles Above The Ocean To Fight Climate Change. According to MIT Technology Review, “Within the next 18 months, a Palo Alto–based startup wants to begin releasing a small quantity of iron-rich particles into the exhaust stream of a shipping vessel crossing the open ocean.  Blue Dot Change hopes to determine whether the particles will accelerate the destruction of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If it works, the four-person company hopes to begin spraying the particles on commercial scales within a year after that, says David Henkel-Wallace, the founder and chief executive.” [MIT Technology Review, 2/15/23 (=)]