This article describes how the EPA has revised its estimate of how much methane is released during fracking. Downward. Significantly downward.
The Environmental Protection Agency has dramatically lowered its estimate of how much of a potent heat-trapping gas leaks during natural gas production, in a shift with major implications for a debate that has divided environmentalists: Does the recent boom in fracking help or hurt the fight against climate change?
Not surprisingly,
Oil and gas drilling companies had pushed for the change, but there have been differing scientific estimates of the amount of methane that leaks from wells, pipelines and other facilities during production and delivery. Methane is the main component of natural gas.
Some more thoughts over the orange curly cue:
More from the article: does anyone know anything about the Breakthrough Institute? Is it legit?
...said Michael Shellenberger, the president of the Breakthrough Institute, an environmental group based in Oakland, Calif. "This is great news for anybody concerned about the climate and strong proof that existing technologies can be deployed to reduce methane leaks."
How much was revised:
The scope of the EPA's revision was vast.... about a 20 percent reduction from previous estimates. ... even though natural gas production has grown by nearly 40 percent since 1990. ... Experts on both sides of the debate say the leaks can be controlled by fixes such as better gaskets, maintenance and monitoring. Such fixes are also thought to be cost-effective, since the industry ends up with more product to sell. ...
Ah! Industry-funded report.
...The EPA said it made the changes based on expert reviews and new data from several sources, including a report funded by the oil and gas industry. But the estimates aren't based on independent field tests of actual emissions, and some scientists said that's a problem.
In my opinion it is potentially good news, but I remain very skeptical. It's not as if the oil and gas industry has a reputation of honesty - or if our government does, either, when telling us about these dangers.
I'm sure there are plenty of Kossacks are much more knowledgable about this matter.
What do you think? Can the EPA be trusted?
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Tired of politics? Need to escape? Try one of my Greek mythology based novels, either the story of Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus or a trilogy about Niobe, whose children were murdered by the gods - or were they? or one of the first examples of civil disobedience, Antigone and Creon. Or, if you like mysteries and/or Jane Austen, treat yourself to
The Highbury Murders: A Mystery Set in the Village of Jane Austen’s Emma.