Energy Exchange

Widespread public support, new analysis signal urgent need for strong EPA methane protections

By EDF Blogs / Bio / Published: February 27, 2023

Earlier this month, the EPA closed its comment period on proposed oil and gas methane regulations. Over 400,000 individuals and a broad array of public health, environmental justice, conservation, labor, tribal, faith, youth and other interests — including oil and gas producers themselves — voiced support for EPA to use its authority under the Clean Air Act to enact protective pollution safeguards.

EDF, alongside our partner organizations, submitted comments that underscore how cost-effective protective standards are and the need for EPA to swiftly finalize rules that take more protective action to cut pollution from routine flaring.

Here are some of the highlights from EDF’s public comments, which are available here.

Also posted in Methane / Language: English / Comments are closed

Trust, but verify: How Colorado must lead as latest methane rulemaking advances

By EDF Blogs / Bio / Published: February 22, 2023

By Nini Gu

Colorado’s oil and gas regulators face an important decision that will determine whether the state can continue to successfully cut methane emissions and reach its statutory climate targets.

In 2021, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission adopted a rule that limits how much greenhouse gas can be emitted per barrel of oil and gas produced. However, the 2021 GHG intensity rule left open the critical question of how oil and gas operators can demonstrate that their emissions comply with the new standard.

Allowing companies to determine for themselves how to measure and report emissions without strong guidance and a requirement to use direct measurement data threatens to undermine the intensity standard and set a bad precedent for other jurisdictions — in the U.S. and abroad — that are looking to implement performance-based standards.

Fortunately, the Air Pollution Control Division is now undertaking a GHG Intensity Verification rulemaking to address this glaring omission, offering the opportunity to create a program based on best-available science and grounded in real and meaningful outcomes.

This GHG Intensity Verification Rule must be accurate, reliable and capable of directly quantifying the volume of real-world methane emissions so Colorado can make informed decisions to protect communities and the climate.

Also posted in Climate, Colorado, Gas to Clean / Language: English / Comments are closed

After a worrisome delay, New Jersey regulators are making real progress on electric truck charging infrastructure

By EDF Blogs / Bio / Published: February 21, 2023

By Elizabeth B. Stein and Cole Jermyn

Back in December, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities released a revised straw proposal for the development of charging infrastructure for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles throughout the state. This proposal comes over a year after the preliminary proposal was released in June 2021. When it comes to building infrastructure at a large scale and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other health-harming pollution, especially in already overburdened communities, a year’s delay is costly. The BPU must work quickly to finalize an order and direct the utilities to implement their resulting programs soon to align with the rapid deployment of zero-emission trucks and buses expected in New Jersey.

Also posted in Electric Vehicles / Language: English / Comments are closed

New study underscores need for better methane measurement and strong regulations

By Ari Pottens / Published: February 21, 2023

New research reveals methane emissions from Saskatchewan’s oil and gas industry are much higher than previously thought. Fortunately, the Trudeau government has a tremendous opportunity to address this problem as it crafts next year’s federal budget and demonstrates its commitment to ratchet down climate pollution.

Also posted in Methane regulatons / Language: English / Comments are closed

Study suggests LNG production facilities should monitor methane emissions – just like the rest of the gas supply chain

By EDF Blogs / Bio / Published: February 16, 2023

Stock photo of LNG terminal

By James France

Many parts of the world are looking to liquefied natural gas to provide a pathway to a cleaner and more secure energy resource — interest that has only grown since Russia’s war on Ukraine has shaken global energy markets. Meanwhile, gas-producing countries see LNG as a critical growth opportunity. The question is what an LNG boom would mean for the climate and communities near LNG facilities.

Also posted in BLM Methane, Carbon capture / Language: English / Comments are closed

New study shows huge variation in how different oil companies manage climate pollution – underscores need for more oversight

By EDF Blogs / Bio / Published: February 1, 2023

By Jon Goldstein and Ben Hmiel

For the last several years, researchers have been studying methane emissions in the Permian Basin (the nation’s largest oil field) to try and understand just how much climate pollution specific oil companies may be responsible for. A new study published this week from EDF and Carbon Mapper offers insights into how we answer that question.

Also posted in Methane, PermianMAP / Language: English / Comments are closed