Energy Tomorrow Blog
The Good News on (Lowering) Emissions
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Mark Green
Posted July 9, 2018
There’s good and not-so-good in a recent Washington Post editorial on natural gas and climate policy, which rightly nails the importance of natural gas to the U.S. economy and the environment, yet wrongly suggests more layers of government regulation are needed to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing Methane Emissions as a Core Industry Value
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Mark Green
Posted June 28, 2018
When one speaker at the World Gas Conference talked about methane emissions from natural gas as the “elephant in the room” that industry isn’t talking about – I didn’t know what they were talking about! Everywhere at WGC2018, people are talking about reducing methane emissions.
That’s because natural gas and oil companies have been reducing emissions and are focused on continuing that progress in the future. No one is more focused on capturing methane – the key component in natural gas – than companies that sell natural gas.
Natural Gas, Benefits, Continuing Progress on Cutting Emissions
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Mark Green
Posted June 21, 2018
Let’s make three quick points following release of a new methane emissions report from the Environmental Defense Fund: The paper's findings are consistent with falling emissions; technology, knowledge and industry collaboration are continuing the progress already made in cutting emissions; and a sound, accurate base of information is needed to help build an understanding of where and how more improvements in reducing emissions can be made in the future.
Continuing to Reduce Methane Emissions Here on Earth
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Mark Green
Posted April 12, 2018
The Environmental Defense Fund’s plan to send up a satellite in two or three years to monitor methane emissions on earth from space generated headlines (some of the coverage here and here) and at some point can add to the knowledge base useful in advancing emissions goals. While EDF prepares for orbit, on terra firma our industry continues to use state-of-the-science technologies to reduce methane emissions from natural gas systems. With success: Emissions decreased 16.3 percent between 1990 and 2015, even as production increased nearly 52 percent.
This is a terrific, ongoing story that sometimes can get lost in the daily back and forth over who’s doing what on climate: Industry reducing emissions while also producing a natural gas abundance that benefits consumers, manufacturers and the environment, taking a lead role in reducing carbon dioxide levels to 25-year lows.
Energy Gifts
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Mark Green
Posted December 28, 2017
America’s energy abundance makes our country stronger, more prosperous and secure in the world. Safely harnessing this energy requires technology, innovation, access to reserves and smart policy. When these come together, we all benefit.
Landmark Environmental Partnership Launches
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Mark Green
Posted December 5, 2017
It’s hard to overstate the importance of industry’s new environmental initiative launched on Tuesday – The Environmental Partnership. “Landmark,” “historic” and “ground-breaking” all describe the partnership. Add to that list “bold” – with 26 natural gas and oil companies agreeing to share scientific information, innovations and best practices while being publicly accountable for progress on further reducing emissions from energy production. This is a big deal.
Reducing Methane Emissions, Advancing U.S. Energy
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Mark Green
Posted July 11, 2017
We expect that, after all the data and emissions trends are considered, EPA will develop a science-based, cost-effective path to target emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in which methane emissions reductions also are achieved. Industry supports environmental protection and, indeed, is demonstrating that support by taking actions to reduce methane emissions.
BLM Methane Rule Duplicative, Unnecessary
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Jack Gerard
Posted May 18, 2017
America’s oil and natural gas industry supports commonsense regulation, but a duplicative Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule regulating methane emissions is a solution in search of a problem. … Fortunately, the Interior Department has “flagged” the rule “as one we will suspend, revise or rescind given its significant regulatory burden that encumbers American energy production, economic growth and job creation.”
Improving Air Quality and the Unnecessary BLM Rule
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Mark Green
Posted May 9, 2017
We’ve made the strong economic case for repealing the Bureau of Land Management’s so-called “venting and flaring” rule. Yet, just as important is the reality that since its inception, BLM’s rule has been an environmental solution in search of an environmental problem. Here’s what we mean: Methane emissions associated with the natural gas industry fell by 16.3 percent from 1990 to 2015, according to EPA – even as natural gas production increased 55 percent. This is the result of industry innovating new technologies to capture more and more methane, the main component in natural gas. Progress is occurring under existing regulation by the states and EPA, which have jurisdiction over air quality under the Clean Air Act.
100 Days: Industry is Committed to Environmental Protection
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Mark Green
Posted April 24, 2017
