Joe Romm at Climate Progress writes—Stunning new research finds fracking a major source of carbon pollution in Pennsylvania:
The evidence is now overwhelming that natural gas is not part of the climate solution, it is part of the problem.
A new study finds that the methane escaping from Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry “causes the same near-term climate pollution as 11 coal-fired power plants.” And that is “five times higher than what oil and gas companies report” to the state, according to analysis from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) based on 16 peer-reviewed studies.
Natural gas is mostly methane, a super-potent greenhouse gas, which traps 86 times as much heat as CO2 over a 20-year period. So even a small leakage rate from the natural gas supply chain (production to delivery to combustion) can have a large climate impact — enough to gut the entire benefit of switching from coal-fired power to gas for a long, long time.
Yet even though many earlier studies have found that natural gas production spews out huge amounts of carbon pollution all across the country, just last week, the Trump administration moved to undo an Obama-era rule aimed at limiting the methane leakage from gas and oil production on public lands. [...]
TOP COMMENTS • HIGH IMPACT STORIES
QUOTATION
“What’s the worst possible thing you can call a woman? Don’t hold back, now. You’re probably
thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt (I told you not to hold back!), skank. Okay, now, what
are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy. I’ve even heard the term ‘mangina.’ Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Being a woman is the ultimate insult. Now tell me that’s not royally fucked up.”
~Jessica Valenti, Full Frontal Feminism (2007)
TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
On this date at Daily Kos in 2008—AZ-01, AZ-03: Those pesky ethics ...
Another day, another story of GOP corruption. In this case, the offender is embattled Arizona Republican Rick Renzi, now indicted:
Republican Rep. Rick Renzi has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona.
A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Arizona accuses Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. The sale netted one of Renzi's former partners $4.5 million.
Extortion, fraud, money laundering. That's quite a list, Congressman. Sure you didn't miss one?
The good news for Renzi, of course, is that this will not damage his chances for reelection, as he is not standing for reelection. He announced retirement plans last August, which is probably a wise decision as it will afford him plenty of time to focus on his legal defense.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show, Greg Dworkin reviews the made-for-TV moments, post-Parkland. Trump retreats to terrible NRA talking points. Why you can expect the "special training" and other requirements for armed teachers to disappear once the NRA has secured its goal.
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