A Sense of Urgency

Republican and Democratic lawmakers join environmentalists, faith leaders, and community organizations in pushing Governor Tom Wolf to advance meaningful regulations on methane emissions from Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry.

Putting the pieces together on climate

Pennsylvania will slash 80% of net greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 2050, DEP is moving forward with tighter methane emission rules for the oil & gas industry, and Pittsburgh’s gas utility deploys cutting-edge technology to find and fix leaks in its distribution system.

The pieces are beginning to come together on climate action in Pennsylvania.

Putting advanced leak detection tech to work in Pittsburgh

New leak detection technology will help natural gas utility Peoples Gas cut methane emissions from its Pittsburgh distribution system in half this year. The announcement marks a new phase in Peoples' ongoing partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and Google Earth Outreach.

Step Onto the Virtual Well Pad

A virtual reality experience created by Environmental Defense Fund demonstrates just how easy and inexpensive it's getting for natural gas producers to find and fix methane leaks. Drop in on a demonstration held recently in Pittsburgh.

Veterans speak out on waste and energy security

Leaks and flaring waste millions of dollars' worth of natural gas every year. For Pennsylvanians who've fought wars in the name of energy security, that's adding insult to injury.

Safety, Savings, Stewardship

Methane mitigation startups are flourishing in states that have adopted responsible emissions rules for the oil and gas industry. This Wyoming firm was founded on the premise that finding and fixing gas leaks doesn't just save money and reduce pollution -- it can also save lives.

methane mitigation takes off

More and more Pennsylvanians are finding work in the growing methane mitigation industry, helping to find and fix natural gas leaks that drive up energy costs and contribute to global warming.

methane 101: an introduction

part 1 of 4

A crash course in methane's climate impacts, taught by Professor Allen Robinson of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University.

methane 101: what we know

part 2 of 4

Since the shale gas boom began, researchers have learned a lot about how natural gas production and processing affects the climate. Professor Allen Robinson of Carnegie Mellon University's Scott Institute for Energy Innovation explains.

methane 101: what we need to know

part 3 of 4

Research suggests the bulk of methane emissions are coming from a relatively small number of large leaks. But to identify and address these "super-emitters," more precise data is needed. Allen Robinson, Professor of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University's Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, explains how new technologies and techniques are making it easier for companies to gather that information.

methane 101: what we can do

part 4 of 4

In Pennsylvania alone, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of natural gas leak into the atmosphere each year. Finding and fixing those leaks means more product for companies to sell, lower utility bills for ratepayers, and more good-paying jobs in the Commonwealth's growing methane mitigation sector. Carnegie Mellon University Professor Allen Robinson explains why controlling emissions is a win-win both for Pennsylvania's economy and for the planet.

Looking West: First in the nation 

part 1 of 4

A growing number of natural gas-producing states are working with the oil and gas industry to control methane leaks. As Pennsylvania joins the list, what can we learn from the experience of other states that have already adopted rules to limit their own emissions?

Colorado developed the nation's first set of methane rules for oil and gas producers in 2014. Three years later, emissions are down and stakeholders are happy -- thanks to a close collaboration between state government, industry, and citizens.

Looking West: First Steps

part 2 of 4

The process that led to Colorado's first-in-the-nation oil & gas methane emissions rules began in 2012, with two simple goals: identify the primary sources of natural gas leaks, and work with stakeholders on a plan to control them.

looking west: a seat at the table

part 3 of 4

How Colorado brought operators, environmentalists, regulators, and communities together to create the nation's first methane emissions rules for the oil & gas industry.

Looking West: success story

part 4 of 4

Four years after Colorado set out to reduce methane emissions by bringing oil and gas operators together with environmental groups and regulators, has the experiment succeeded? What do stakeholders think? And what lessons have they learned?

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

4.17.16

The half-hour television show features Andrew Place, Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Sam Robinson from Governor Tom Wolf’s Office of Policy and Planning; Andrew Williams of the Environmental Defense Fund; and PEC’s John Walliser.