New Rules to Cut Methane Emissions Called Just a Beginning
Andrea Sears, Producer
Thursday, August 20, 2015
NEW YORK - Advocates are praising new rules announced this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, but they say more needs to be done.
The EPA rules are designed to cut emissions from new sources by as much as 45 percent over the next decade.
Conor Bambrick, Air & Energy Director at Environmental Advocates of New York, says that definitely will help rein in a major factor contributing to global climate change.
"We need to stress there's a need to go much further in terms of regulating methane and going after the facilities that are already in place," says Bambrick.
Existing sources include oil-and-gas well sites and the nationwide system of gas pipelines. New York State has set its sights on an ambitious 40 percent overall reduction of climate pollution by 2030.
Bambrick says a big part of meeting that goal will be reducing methane emissions.
"The state energy plan adopted in June identifies methane regulations as something that the state needs to take on, but we haven't yet seen an actual plan as to how they are going to do it," he says.
Environmental Advocates say methane accounts for only nine percent of climate-changing emissions, but its effect is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…
Social Issues
Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …
Social Issues
Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …
Environment
New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…