Fight Methane Crisis by Making Green Energy

Why We Need to Act

Methane our most dangerous greenhouse gas is 85 times worse than carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions is the fastest and cheapest way to reduce climate change. Not only that but with the Methane leaks, there are also carcinogenic chemicals being released as well, such as benzenes. 

We know from research in BC that the leakage is 2.5 times higher than what the Government reports list. In Alberta, the research indicates a 60% higher rate of release than the industry claims. 

What are the Benefits

Aside from the obvious benefit that we are going to reduce one of our worse greenhouse gases thus making an effort toward trying to slow down climate change, there are other benefits to this as well:

• In Alberta alone regulating methane would create 1,500 jobs immediately in the province. The only opposition against this at the moment is from the industry.
• The Canadian government estimates that the regulation of methane would result in a net benefit of 11.7 billion dollars, resulting from lower climate change impacts. The net saving to the health system is not included in this figure.
• The current methane loss per year is 55 million tons, enough to heat 200,000 homes for one year.

What Needs to be Done

The Minister can make this change by simply modifying the existing regulations to move that dates of compliance forward, no legislation required. They can also increase the frequency of inspections so they are as rigorous the US or better. Also, this regulation should apply to all wells currently single wells are exempt and well as oil facilities, both should regulate these serious omissions in the regulation.  

The Best Solution

This article from Green Energy illustrations how you can create 100 Megawatts from one abandoned oil well and stop the methane leakage at the same time. Even marginal wells can be used to produce one to three Megawatts. Of course, the power is produced 24 hours a day seven days a week.

This technology does the following:

• Taps energy that conventional technology can not use.
• Delivers scalable electric power
• Provides continuous yet flexible power for grid stability
• Provides green energy with no gas emissions, waste stream, explosives, dangerous chemicals, visual obstructions, and no possibility of ground water contamination.

To read article click here.

Illustration courtesy of Green Energy