Energy Exchange

Here’s how New Jersey can capitalize on its best clean energy investment opportunities

By Mary Barber / Published: December 5, 2017

Governor-elect Phil Murphy’s clean energy agenda has the potential to be a game-changer for New Jersey. His influence can position the state to regain its leadership in the fight against climate change, and create a clean energy economy that will lead to more jobs, and improve the health and well-being of all New Jerseyans.

To capitalize on this opportunity and achieve the state’s goals of clean, resilient, and affordable energy and transportation systems, we need to build on the progress we’ve made with new policies and programs that will allow the adoption of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, and clean transportation infrastructure at scale.

With New Jersey’s many competing investment needs, how will we pay for a much needed clean energy transformation? Public funds, whether from tax payers or utility customers, are not enough. EDF’s latest report, Financing New Jersey’s Clean Energy Economy: Pathways for Leadership, analyzes three innovative financial approaches that leverage public resources to catalyze private investment in these technologies. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Energy Financing / Read 1 Response

A rare opportunity to improve the health of Mexico’s environment and economy

By Drew Nelson / Published: December 4, 2017

This post originally appeared in Spanish on El Universal.

Not often is a pollutant referred to as an environmental and economic opportunity. But that’s exactly what methane is for countries looking for cost-effective climate solutions and a way to prepare for the 21st century energy economy. And it’s especially important for Mexico right now, as changes in energy laws have opened the doors to a slew of new exploration projects that could reshape Mexico’s oil and gas industry and boost economic growth through 2025.

Methane is the main ingredient of natural gas. When burned, natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels. But when it escapes unburned, as it does across the global oil and gas industry, methane is 80 per cent more powerful a heat-trapper than carbon dioxide in the short term. Methane also contributes to local air pollution, including smog, and the health impacts that come with it. It’s not just countries that are aware of this. A growing number of investors and energy companies are responding to the reputational threat of uncontrolled methane emissions.

Released last week, the International Energy Agency’s latest World Energy Outlook articulates the methane challenge very powerfully. Its analysis shows that with current technologies the oil and gas industry can drastically reduce methane emissions by 75 percent worldwide – and that up to two thirds of those reductions can be realized at zero net cost. What’s more, the IEA says that just the cost-effective reductions would have the same climate impact in 2100 as immediately closing all the coal plants in China.  Read More »

Posted in General, Methane, Natural Gas / Tagged , | Comments are closed

Bringing new pollution-sensing technology to California

By Tim O'Connor / Published: December 1, 2017

Report published December 2017

Leer en espanol »

California is home to over 50,000 active oil and gas facilities – 3,500 in the Los Angeles area alone. Many are located in close proximity to homes, schools, and hospitals. Emissions from these facilities can create real public health concerns, especially for communities living near oil and gas sites.

A new analysis explains how advancements in air pollution sensing technology could enable California to:

  1. Improve public health protections, and reduce exposures in communities.
  2. Cut pollution and help transition to a cleaner energy future.
  3. Close data gaps and democratize data access related to industry emissions at lower costs and higher resolution than has ever been possible.
  4. EDF’s latest research in monitoring technology demonstrate we have the tools available today that can transform the way we access pollution data tomorrow.

These technological breakthroughs were made possible by the work of bedrock companies and innovation-minded entrepreneurs, and aided in part through EDF partnerships with institutions like Stanford University and programs like the Methane Detectors Challenge. Together, we are helping to propel the sensing revolution and accelerate cost reductions.

Where we’ve been, where we are going

California has a long history and strong track record on air quality monitoring, but real-time data on oil and gas emissions remains practically non-existent. If made widely available, this data could help energize new policies that can reduce pollution.

Fortunately, the recent tech boom has made pollution sensing technology more accessible than ever before — meaning we can start to deploy continuous air monitors at oil and gas sites to collect emissions data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – data can also inform health research and public policy.

EDF’s recommendations for air pollution monitoring is based on a technical analysis by Ramboll Environ that details the vast growth of technology and characterizes costs and capabilities of the best suited stationary monitors on the market today.

A select number of facilities have already started implementing these technologies. But if air monitors are installed at facilities statewide and pollution data is made publicly available, it could significantly improve quality of life for communities living near the oilfields. This EDF report identifies a framework of recommendations aimed at ensuring state-wide deployment of this new wave of technology.

Watch our 5 part video series »

Posted in California / Comments are closed

Exxon joins counterparts in new call for increased global methane action, including regulations

By EDF Blogs / Published: December 1, 2017

By Ben Ratner and Drew Nelson

In spite of the anti-environmental furor of the Trump administration, 2017 has been a year of encouraging commitments by a growing number of global oil and gas industry leaders – including American oil giant Exxon Mobil – that understand methane emissions is a key business challenge. Methane is a fast-acting climate pollutant and unchecked emissions from the oil and gas sector undermine the credibility of natural gas in the transition to a lower carbon future.

The latest milestone is a commitment by BP, Exxon, Shell and other global energy companies to a set of principles to significantly reduce the amount of methane emitted across the natural gas supply chain. Environmental Defense Fund helped develop the foundational principles alongside the eight companies and other members including the International Energy Agency, UN Environment, the Rocky Mountain Institute and Indian non-profit group TERI.

Similar, yet distinct from other industry commitments made in connection with the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative or the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (see here and here), all of these initiatives are evidence that forward-thinkers understand the stakes and see the long-term business value in addressing methane emissions. Read More »

Posted in Methane, Natural Gas / Comments are closed

Methane waste: New Mexico’s multi-million dollar opportunity to increase funding and cut pollution

By Jon Goldstein / Published: November 28, 2017

A new analysis is taking a closer looking at the scope of New Mexico’s methane problem and the financial impact it’s having on the state’s taxpayers.

We have known for some time that New Mexico had a problem with methane waste and pollution from the state’s oil and gas industry. A 2015 report from business consulting firm ICF International found that more methane gas was wasted from oil and gas production on federal and tribal lands in New Mexico than any other state. And the infamous hot spot of methane pollution over the state’s San Juan Basin is the highest concentration of this pollution found anywhere in the U.S. But a new report is providing the first-ever comprehensive, statewide view of methane emissions and waste from New Mexico’s oil and gas industry.

This new analysis, which is based on industry-reported inventory data and an extensive review of recent scientific research, estimates that the excessive leaking, venting and flaring of natural gas has resulted in New Mexico’s oil and gas industry emitting 570,000 tons of methane each year. Read More »

Posted in General, Methane, Natural Gas / Tagged | Comments are closed

One step forward, one step back for Ohio policy to fairly compensate solar customers

By John Finnigan / Published: November 28, 2017

Rooftop solar provides many benefits to the electric grid, like having no fuel costs and increasing electric grid resiliency – the ability to quickly recover from problems.

So how can utilities recognize these benefits and reward people who install solar at their homes and businesses? A popular way is through net metering, which allows customers to send the electricity from their solar panels to the power grid and receive a credit on their electricity bill.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) recently updated the state’s net metering policy, with some positive and some negative changes. Following the lead of the Ohio Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) helped usher in these updates, and we’ll work to make sure solar customers are compensated fully and fairly. Read More »

Posted in Ohio, Solar Energy / Comments are closed