Energy Exchange

The Inflation Reduction Act is a game-changer on methane. Here’s why.

By EDF Blogs / Published: January 25, 2023

The US Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which takes bold action to address the climate crisis. Multiple independent analyses show the bill could reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, providing important support for President Biden’s goal of halving emissions by 2030.

Last week, the EPA requested public input on a key provision of the IRA — the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, MERP, — which works hand-in-hand with forthcoming EPA rules to cut methane from oil and gas operations through a fee on wasteful emissions.

Also posted in Air Quality, Methane regulatons / Comments are closed

S&P Global Analysis Says Industry’s Wasted Gas Could Bring Quick Relief to Energy Market

By Matt Watson / Published: December 7, 2022

Russia’s war on Ukraine has sent painful shockwaves through global gas markets — not only in Europe but across Asia and in developing economies that can least afford it. The crisis is accelerating efforts to transition to cleaner, safer, more reliable energy, while setting off a scramble for new gas supplies to backfill what once came from Russia. How to meet that near-term need without a massive new infrastructure buildout that would undermine climate goals and risk stranding billions in capital? One key solution – identified by EDF, the International Energy Agency and others — lies in the vast amounts of gas currently wasted by the oil and gas industry through flaring, leaks and other emissions.

Also posted in Flaring, General, Methane regulatons / Comments are closed

Pennsylvania acts to avert a manufactured crisis to protect its economy, environment and $750 million in federal funds

By EDF Blogs / Published: November 30, 2022

Image courtesy of Earthworks

By John Rutecki and John Walliser

On Nov. 21^st, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced his administration would pursue a now-approved emergency rulemaking to finalize long-overdue volatile organic compound and methane rules for the conventional oil and gas industry.

Also posted in Air Quality, General / Tagged Pennsylvania | Comments are closed

Details, Details: Quiet Action at COP 27 Tees Up a Big Year for Methane

By Mark Brownstein / Published: November 21, 2022

It’s no surprise that COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt closed with few groundbreaking headlines. Going in, we knew it would be a “working COP” focused on steps to advance the commitments made at previous gatherings. And while some important steps were made on technical issues and a historic agreement on funding arrangements for loss and damage was sparked, there was real progress in the fight to reduce methane, the pollutant driving nearly a third of current warming.

Posted in Methane / Comments are closed

Key things we learned from studying methane in the nation’s largest oilfield

By EDF Blogs / Published: November 21, 2022

By Ben Hmiel and Jon Goldstein

After three years of actively collecting methane emissions data in the Permian Basin, researchers have gained new insights that will make it easier to reduce emissions of the incredibly potent greenhouse gas methane. These insights are helping inform state and federal regulatory approaches at a critical time.

Download the final report. Read More »

Also posted in Flaring, General, Methane regulatons, PermianMAP, Texas / Tagged New Mexico | Comments are closed

Unreported pollution: What new research reveals about Canada’s methane problem

By EDF Blogs / Published: November 3, 2022

By Scott Seymour and Ari Pottens

Canada has set arguably some of the most ambitious goals of any country when it comes to reducing emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane. In addition to joining a global coalition of countries pledging to reduce 30% of their methane emissions, Canada has also vowed to reduce oil and gas sector emissions even further, by 75%.

But how close is Canada to reaching that goal? New research published this week in the journal Elementa reveals it is almost impossible to accurately answer that question with our current policies.

Here’s why.

Also posted in Air Quality, Canada, Methane regulatons / Comments are closed