Oil and gas companies have until 2025 to reduce the emissions they release into the air through the practices known as venting and flaring.

You may have seen a large plume of fire coming from smokestacks at oil-producing sites but you may not have considered how it is affecting your life. Oil and gas producers use venting and flaring to burn off excess gas. The process releases methane into the air, and environmental groups pointed out it is not only wasteful, but dangerous.

Becca Edwards, climate action fellow for the advocacy group Texas Impact and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, said the practice has two major negative effects.

"Releasing methane creates air pollution that harms people who are vulnerable," Edwards noted. "The second impact that methane emissions has is climate change. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It traps heat, contributing to climate change."

Texas is the largest producer of gas in the nation, and a new study showed the emissions are being underreported. Researchers used remote sensing for the study and estimated methane released into the atmosphere contributes to about $7.4 billion in health damages annually.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a ruling last year aimed at sharply reducing emissions of methane and other air pollutants from oil and gas operations. For the first time, the regulations include existing well sites instead of only new ones. Edwards emphasized Texas Impact supports the new standards.

"We represent people of faith in Texas, and as people of faith, we feel that advocating for a healthy and safe environment is a moral obligation," Edwards stressed. "Those regulations are expected to reduce methane emissions significantly."

Oil and gas companies have two years to comply but it appears they are gearing up for a fight. The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and gas production, opposes the restrictions and has petitioned the Attorney General to challenge the EPA's new rule in court.


get more stories like this via email

Several Connecticut counties rank poorly in the latest State of the Air report by the American Lung Association.

Four counties measured for ozone pollution received failing grades while three others got C's. The rankings stem from transportation emissions, the state's largest contributor to greenhouse gases.

Ruth Canovi, Connecticut advocacy director for the American Lung Association, said ozone pollution comes with serious health effects.

"I've had doctors explain it as almost like a sunburn on the lung," Canovi recounted. "It really causes irritation. High ozone levels can be linked to chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, cardiovascular issues so heart issues, worsening of already existing asthma."

There are ways for the General Assembly to tackle air quality issues. Bills related to climate change and renewable energy can help reduce ozone pollution and poor air quality. Canovi noted the Environmental Protection Agency's new clean truck standards can reduce nationwide emissions by up to 60% by 2032 and prevent 1 billion metric tons of carbon pollution.

Connecticut's air quality has improved since the report was first released, although it remains above safe levels. While there have been certain legislative challenges, Canovi pointed out other issues are hampering clean air improvement efforts.

"Climate change really is hindering our ability to clean up our air," Canovi emphasized. "In Connecticut, like I mentioned, that ozone piece, hotter and sunnier days create more ozone."

This report used data from 2020 through 2022. Canovi is eager to see next year's report since it will incorporate data from the months when Canadian wildfire smoke inundated East Coast states.


get more stories like this via email

A recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund showed communities near mega warehouses are exposed to more polluted air.

More than 2 million Illinois residents primarily in low income and communities of color live within half a mile of one of the facilities. Lawmakers are reviewing The Warehouse Pollution Insights Act, which, if passed, would mandate owners to submit emissions data to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and expand its truck and air quality monitoring capacity.

Sam Becker, global clean air project manager for the Environmental Defense Fund, said truck fumes are contributing to more health complications for nearby residents.

"Communities near these leased mega warehouses face higher rates of harmful air pollution associated with diseases like asthma, COPD, and stroke," Becker reported. "These are diseases that disproportionately impact children and older people."

A combination of city planning and zoning decisions, the communities' lack of political and economic capital due to systemic disenfranchisement, and a history of redlining -- credit denial by a bank or mortgage company based on faulty determinations of a neighborhood's low property values -- are also contributing reasons. Company owners said they place their facilities where land is most affordable and makes the most business sense for them.

The Advanced Clean Trucks Rule introduced last month would require truck manufacturers to sell more zero-emission trucks and school buses. The Environmental Defense Fund has called for emissions figures from the trucks to be made public. Becker argued logistics companies with truck fleets should take the lead on making the improvements.

"This means transitioning their fleets from polluting diesel vehicles to clean electric vehicles, paying workers a fair wage and giving them health care," Becker outlined. "It also means providing transparency around where the polluting facilities, including warehouses, are located."

Although Illinois does publish pollution data, specific warehouse emission figures are not public information. The Environmental Defense Fund wants more monitors to keep track of warehouse growth and the amount of pollution community members are being exposed to. The study found of the 2 million people who live within a half mile of a warehouse, 127,000 are under age five and 251,000 are over age 64. The report also found at least 525,000 freight truck trips per day service a total of 2,400 leased mega-warehouses across Illinois.

A coalition of climate groups seeking cleaner air at the rail yards and ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will hold a "die-in" rally tomorrow at Los Angeles City Hall.

Nine climate, environmental and community organizations are calling on Mayor Karen Bass to support new rules coming soon from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Cristhian Tapia-Delgado, Southern California climate campaigner for the nonprofit Pacific Environment, explained the urgency behind the protest.

"These rules have been delayed for almost a decade now for the port," Tapia-Delgado pointed out. "Our communities can't keep waiting. People shouldn't be dying just because their homes are in vicinity to these polluting sources."

The City of Long Beach's 2019 Community Health Assessment found communities near the port suffered increased rates of respiratory diseases and up to 8 years shorter life expectancy.

The South Coast district board is set to consider indirect-source rules to set facility-wide emission reduction goals for rail yards in August and for the ports in December. Cargo shipping companies relying on diesel fuel have balked at the expense of converting to new engines or cleaner fuels. The California Chamber of Commerce said the rules would result in caps on cargo volumes and hurt jobs.

Tapia-Delgado hopes Bass will use her influence to produce real change.

"We're asking her to stick to her campaign promises of working with all levels of government on her 2030 zero-emission port goals to reduce the negative health impacts," Tapia-Delgado stressed.

Advocates are also expected to speak out tomorrow during the public comment period of the Los Angeles City Council meeting.