I was aware that leaking methane is a problem, both as a greenhouse gas, and as a lost source of energy and revenue. However, I was unaware of the extent of the problem. There are two methane clouds in particular that could boggle the mind. Of course Republicans oppose the solution for one. They are the cause of the other.
In March, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell cited a methane gas plume the size of Delaware hovering over the Four Corners area in Northwest New Mexico as evidence that the Interior Department needs to cut “wasted gas that results from venting and flaring during oil and gas operations.”
This methane hot spot, which is located above an area that contains more than 40,000 wells, arises primarily from leaks in natural gas production and processing equipment spanning a large area of federal lands. While it may be the most visible instance of this issue, it is far from the only instance of methane — a powerful greenhouse gas that traps up to 34 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over the course of a century — being emitted into the atmosphere above public lands. A new report from the Government Accountability Office notes another unfortunate side effect of this inefficiency: the loss of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year.
The GAO has been urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an Interior Department agency, to cut methane emissions via flared or vented gas since at least 2010, when the government office found that 40 percent of this methane could be economically captured and sold. According to the 2010 report, “such reductions could increase federal royalty payments by about $23 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to about 16.5 million metric tons of CO2 — the annual emissions equivalent of 3.1 million cars.” … [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Fortunately, dealing with this problem is part of Barack Obama’s greenhouse initiative, although Republicans are doing their worst to undermine it.
The other plume is far worse, and is not covered under Obama’s plan, because the noxious cloud not an energy related plume. It comes from an overconcentration of bovine excrement. Here’s a picture:
12 Responses to “Capture the Leaking Methane!”
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Thank heavens for the GAO and it is horrible that so-called fiscal conservatives are fighting against the most fiscally sound policy the administration could have on this one. Thanks for helping ensure more people understand on this one TC.
The "Four Corners" area also includes Cortez, CO, and Flagstaff, AZ. I don't know about Flag, but in that southwestern part of Colorado – there are not exactly MORE crazies than there are in Colorado springs, because the population is smaller. But the ones who ARE in that area seem to be crazier than any in the rest of the state. And more methane in the breathing pool will only make it worse. Of course, that might be why Republicans are fighting it.
Four years ago I could see that cloud and of course the air was not good. This post from then http://oakcreekforum.blogspot.com/2011/10/to-say-theres-lot-dont-cut-it.html
acknowledges the activity and there is a shitty video of the amount of traffic in town related to that. It was soooo bad.
Thanks Fly!
Unfortunately, there are also naturally occurring methane bubbles in the sea along the Siberian northern coast that are very large. They are coming up through the sea floor and cause significant issues. And of course, neither the GAO nor the Obama administration can do a thing about them, like they can't deal with the "overconcentration of bovine excrement" in the Capitol. That BS can only be cleared up by the American voters by eliminating the Republicanus/Teabaggerum from the Capitol. I know the UK and Canada have similar problems of BS coming from their respective parliaments.
Strand Republicams/Tories on iceburgs? 😉
What did the icebergs ever do to deserve that?! Mind, with the methane and global warming, the icebergs will soon be ocean . . . maybe even ocean north of Siberia where they can inhale more methane! 😈
That was the idea! 😈
Good grief – and yet the GOP wants you to believe that they are against waste…. oh dear!
While it may be the most visible instance of this issue, it is far from the only instance of methane — a powerful greenhouse gas that traps up to 34 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over the course of a century — being emitted into the atmosphere above public lands.
What the fossil-fuel industry and the Republicans are doing here is equivalent to farting in a crowded elevator — on a planetary scale. Unfortunately there's nowhere to go to escape the stench of their irresponsibility.
Very well said.
Thanks all!