Sunday, April 28, 2013

Methane emissions, don't blame fracking


San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, 4/28/12.  "EPA methane report further divides fracking camps."

And don't blame me alone for global warming
"The Environmental Protection Agency has dramatically lowered its estimate of how much of a potent heat-trapping gas leaks during natural gas production, in a shift with major implications for a debate that has divided environmentalists: Does the recent boom in fracking help or hurt the fight against climate change?

.... The new EPA data is "kind of an earthquake" in the debate over drilling, said Michael Shellenberger, the president of the Breakthrough Institute, an environmental group based in Oakland, Calif. "This is great news for anybody concerned about the climate and strong proof that existing technologies can be deployed to reduce methane leaks."

.... The new EPA figures still show natural gas operations as the leading source of methane emissions in the U.S., at about 145 million metric tons in 2011. The next biggest source was enteric fermentation, scientific jargon for belches from cows and other animals, at 137 million metric tons. Landfills were the third-biggest source, at 103 million metric tons. ...  But the EPA estimates that all the sources of methane combined still account for only 9 percent of greenhouse gases, even taking into account methane's more potent heat-trapping."   Read article.    

Related - Fix Pacifica reprint articles - Fracking.  Note:  photo/graphic from JamLeslie blog. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What does this have to do with Pacifica?

Kathy Meeh said...

"What does this have to do with Pacifica?" Anonymous 4/28, 9:39 PM

Oh I don't know, you might ask the Climate Action committee, or contact the EPA for Pacifica specific answers. Then again, even our Pacifica cars need gasoline, our houses need natural gas, our trash needs land fill, and Half Moon Bay cows still fart, etc.

Do you remember asking the same hapless "Pacifica only" question on the Sandy Hook (Connecticut) school children shooting article? I remember. That one was spammed, where all the others belong as well.

Yet, the opportunity for you to submit local articles exists. . WHERE ARE YOUR LOCAL ARTICLES? Come out of the anonymous cobwebs, stop bitching, and let's see the articles you submit.

Anonymous said...

No one's asking for more articles... They're asking for fewer off-topic ones.

Anonymous said...

Enteric fermentation.

Thank you, Kathy!