The PA Environmental Council and PennFuture both commented on President Obama proposed methane emission reduction proposal announced this week.

PA Environmental Council Blog Post: This morning (January 14) the White House announced an ambitious and welcome goal of reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry 45 percent by 2025.

Methane emissions are a considerable threat to climate change, posing over 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that methane emissions will rise by more than 25 percent by 2025 without additional steps to lower them.

So when you think “quick action” on climate change, reducing methane emissions has to be at the top of everyone’s list.

Methane emissions from the oil and gas industry also represent wasted energy and economic savings – enough, by some estimates, to heat more than five million homes each year.

The good news is that the technology to achieve these reductions is available at more than reasonable cost to the industry (see ICF International’s Economic Analysis). ICF found that industry can cut emissions 40 percent or more for about one penny per thousand cubic feet of natural gas produced.

So the goals announced today by the White House are not only terrific news, they’re achievable. But this announcement does not excuse inaction in Pennsylvania, principally for the following reasons:

-- The White House proposal will only address new emissions. There are 10’s of thousands of existing wells in Pennsylvania that are significant contributors of methane emissions and smog-forming Volatile Organic Compounds, which affect regional air quality. Today’s proposal by the White House won’t directly address those emissions; rather, the EPA will seek voluntary compliance measures from industry.

While such actions are to be commended, they offer no certainty toward accomplishing stated and necessary reductions goals. This means Pennsylvania must take the lead in establishing controls for existing wells within the Commonwealth.

-- The White House proposal looks to the states to act. Many of the elements of today’s announcement revolve around developing guidance for subsequent state action and implementation, meaning that Pennsylvania will need to take affirmative measures in addition to what happens at the federal level. Further -

-- We Can’t Afford to Wait. Today’s announcement is merely the start to a very involved and multi-faceted process that will involve development of guidance and regulation over several years and across multiple agencies. Given the immediate importance of reducing methane emissions, Pennsylvania, as other states have already done, can and should quickly design and implement direct control measures to address methane.

PennFuture Vice President and COO John Norbeck Wednesday issued the following statement in the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's just-announced proposed rule on methane emissions:

"Today, the Environmental Protection Agency took a bold and much-needed step in announcing a goal of reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry 45 percent by 2025-- emissions which are expected to rise more than 25 percent during the period absent action.

“However, for Pennsylvanians, the rule has missed the mark by identifying only new sources and providing no clear pathway for existing sources of emissions.

“As the fastest growing natural gas producing state in the nation, Pennsylvania has thousands of operating gas wells that are spewing methane into the air and exacerbating climate change — sources that are not addressed in this proposed federal rule. Further, the 10-year time frame is simply too long — Pennsylvanians cannot afford to wait a decade for better air for their kids. Who would wait a decade to plug a gas leak in their house?

“Therefore, it is ever more incumbent on Gov.-Elect Tom Wolf to demonstrate leadership on this issue. We are calling on Gov.-Elect Wolf to launch a rulemaking in his first 100 days to directly regulate methane in Pennsylvania. Voluntary programs are not the answer when only a handful of drillers comply and the bulk of producers do little — or nothing.

“Seventy percent of Pennsylvania voters support methane regulations. The technology to address methane emissions is inexpensive and readily available. Our citizens deserve the public health, environmental, and economic benefits that comprehensive methane standards will afford."

NewsClips:

Obama Aims To Limit Methane From Oil & Gas Industry

Obama Moves To Create First Methane Limits For Gas Drilling

Obama Methane Plan Doesn’t Cover Existing Operations

5 Things You Need To Know About Obama’s Methane Emissions Plan

Editorial: Less Hot Air, Less Methane

Power Plant Closures Quench Demand For PA Coal

Casey, Toomey: Exempt Waste Coal Power Plants From Climate Rule

Climate Protesters Gather At GOP Retreat In Hershey

Op-Ed: Should We Heed Pope On Global Warming?

PEC Commits To Green Workplace Challenge

1/16/2015