Energy Exchange

New health study shows cost of oil and gas pollution in Appalachia

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 14, 2023

Earlier this summer, EDF, Boston University School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment and PSE Healthy Energy published a peer-reviewed study that quantified the health impacts of oil and gas pollution, both in dollar value and human lives. The study found that in 2016 alone, pollution from oil and gas production caused $77 billion in health damages across the U.S and thousands of early deaths. Appalachian states had some of the highest health damage rates, especially on a per capita basis. Across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia there were over 1,000 deaths from oil and gas pollution, with some of the highest rates of childhood asthma exacerbations in the country.

Posted in Air Quality, Jobs, Methane, Ohio / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Without action, unreported methane pollution from Saskatchewan could threaten Canada’s climate goals and create more fallout from climate change

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 13, 2023

By Ari Pottens and Scott Seymour

It’s no secret that the rampant, out-of-control wildfires which are devastating parts of Canada and creating toxic air quality conditions for millions of people, are exacerbated by climate change. This makes it all the more crucial to rapidly reduce the greenhouse gases behind the climate crisis.

In 2020, Canada’s federal government implemented new regulations to stem the methane emitted from the oil and gas industry — the leading source of methane in the country. The protections were intended to help cut emissions by 40% – 45% by 2025. Subsequently, the federal government significantly increased its methane ambition and set a 75% reduction goal by 2030.

But a new study is revealing some problems with the way Saskatchewan is managing emissions from a very specific type of oil production known as Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand. It just so happens that a lot of gas, most of which is methane, also comes out during this process. Read More »

Posted in Air Quality, Climate, Methane, Methane regulatons / Tagged Canada | Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Landmark study reveals that millions of Americans live less than a mile from an orphaned oil and gas well

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 11, 2023

By Adam Peltz & Kate Roberts

This week, the Department of the Interior announced nearly $660 million in grant funding to plug orphan wells across the U.S., adding to $560 million in initial funding from last summer. The news comes on the heels of new research led by researchers at McGill University and EDF experts that quantifies the extent of the orphan well problem this funding will begin to tackle.

The study found that at least 4.6 million people are living within about a half mile of an orphaned oil and gas well. Published in June 2023 in Environmental Research Letters, the study examined the environmental risks of orphaned wells and how plugging or repurposing wells could play a role in the transition to net zero. An additional key finding is that many essential technical details about this well set, like depth and condition, and environmental impacts, including methane emission rates and whether they have caused groundwater contamination, are largely unknown.

Posted in Air Quality, Methane regulatons / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Why Schneider’s deployment of 50 electric big rigs gives me hope for the future of trucking

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 29, 2023

Photo courtesy of North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE).

By Lindsay Shigetomi

It’s one thing to see electric trucks on the showroom floor, but it’s an entirely different feeling to see them out in the wild.

Earlier this month, I attended a ribbon-cutting event in South El Monte, California — one of the largest freight hubs in America — to celebrate the roll-out of 50 electric trucks by Schneider. While it is currently one of the largest deployments of class 8 EVs at a single depot, Schneider plans to add 42 more electric trucks to this location by end-of-year, which would have the climate impact of removing 2,400 gas-powered cars from the road.

Posted in California, Electric Vehicles / Comments are closed

An audit on the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule is bad for California and bad for the country

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 16, 2023

By Katelyn Roedner Sutter and Daniel Barad

Last month, the California Air Resources Board unanimously voted to adopt the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule, which sets purchase requirements for private and government fleets to increasingly transition to zero-emission trucks, and sets a 100% sales requirement for manufacturers in 2036. Advocates and communities across the board lauded CARB for taking a critically necessary step to clean up our air, particularly in communities associated with freight corridors, ports and warehouses, therefore most impacted by truck pollution.

Posted in Air Quality, California, Electric Vehicles / Comments are closed

Illinois’ new EV Charging Act brings more equitable charging to renters

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 15, 2023

By Neda Deylami

UPDATE: Since this blog’s publication on June 15, 2023, the Chicago City Council has passed an ordinance aligning and complementing its existing EV readiness ordinance with the state law. Chicago’s 2020 ordinance was more stringent, requiring EV ready wiring in new residential and commercial construction rather than EV capable. Residential requirements only applied in homes of five units or more, whereas SB40 affects all new residential construction. Now, all residential parking spaces in new homes must be EV ready regardless of size. Like the state law, the updated code will require energy management systems, as well as reduction of requirements for affordable housing due to their unique permitting and funding timelines. The ordinance goes into effect for permits submitted after November 1, 2023.

The newly passed Illinois EV Charging Act will address the residential charging access gap by requiring new homes to have basic electrical infrastructure to support future EV charging and giving renters and condo owners a right to charge.

Posted in Electric Vehicles, Illinois / Authors: admin / Comments are closed