EPA Slashes By 20% Fugitive Methane Emissions of Gas Production: What It Does And Does Not Mean

The EPA continues to gather data on the life-cycle emissions of natural gas and its latest update slashes by 20% its methane emission number for natural gas production.  EPA's April 2013 decrease followed an upward adjustment in 2011.  Even prior to this new number for fugitive methane emissions, 6 papers had found that gas emits about 50% less carbon than coal when both are used to generate electricity. The 2013 EPA fugitive methane emissions number will increase further the carbon benefits of gas over coal.
http://news.yahoo.com/epa-methane-report-further-divides-161201451.html.

Moreover, there is no argument that gas emits less soot, mercury, lead, arsenic, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide--all pollutants that sicken and cause premature deaths--than coal.  The EPA new data focuses on the discussion about global warming impacts of gas versus coal and that alone.

As Kevin Begos of the AP reports in the linked to story, Professor Howarth, who authored the single paper contending shale gas emits as much or more carbon than coal, did not welcome EPA's 2013 fugitive gas number.  While there will be continuing data wars about the methane emission rate, perhaps we could all agree that reducing methane emissions from gas production can and must be done.  Indeed, the focus on methane fugitive emissions has almost certainly played a useful role in tightening regulation and in motivating more drilling companies to put resources and attention into cutting emissions through better maintenance, practices, and technology.

Such greater attention does lead to actual cuts in fugitive methane emissions.  Fugitive methane emissions, therefore, are likely declining now in the USA, and future EPA measures of fugitive methane emissions probably will go down again.  That is almost certain once the EPA green completion rule takes full affect in the next two years, as that rule can slash methane emissions during the well completion process by 90%.

Regulators and the gas industry itself should recognize by now that fugitive methane emissions from gas production could be the most important environmental impact associated with natural gas production.  Across the board, gas must cut its environmental footprint, but its carbon impact will be decisive to the climate and to its marketplace and political acceptance.

Staples Is A Power Company: Installs 37th Solar System & 2 Fuel Cells

Flat roofs are out of sight and mind, but a lot of solar is being installed on such roofs at big retailers across America.  Staples just installed its 37th solar system that now provides 14 megawatts of solar power.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/24813.

Despite those impressive numbers, Staples ranks 7th among Fortune 500 companies and 4th among retailers in solar capacity on-site. It's just amazing what is happening on flat business roofs out of our sight.

Staples solar revolution is the product of a partnership with Sun Edison that features the solar leasing model.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/staples-sunedison-unveil-solar-power-140000139.html.

In addition to the proliferating solar systems at ifs stores, Staples has installed 2 fuel cells.  Both were manufactured by Bloom.

The combination of on-site solar and fuel cells are true competitors to the grid and central station power plants.  Look no further than Staples for that emerging energy fact.

Gas Generation Takes Beating, Falling 7.7% Because Coal Generation Jumps 8%

Gas is getting beat by coal in the electric generation market in 2013 and beat soundly.

Natural gas generation fell a sharp 7.7% in February 2013 compared to February 2012.

http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_07_b.

And the cause of gas's decline is rising coal generation.  Coal jumped 8% in the same period.

http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_10_b.

Coal and gas duke it out daily in power generation markets. and the price of gas has reached levels that insure gas will lose in 2013 a significant portion of the market share that it gained from coal during 2012, when gas was about $1.50 per thousand cubic feet than it is now.

Last year, coal provided 37% and gas 30% of US electricity.  This year coal may well supply 40% and gas just 25% of our power. One consequence of the shift back to coal from gas will be higher carbon dioxide emissions this year.

The US said "no" to gas and "yes" to coal in almost equal amounts through February 2013. It is an energy fact of life that some still resist.

Game Changer: 15 Electric Vehicles Earning $1,800 By "Charging" The Grid & Sharply Improve EVs' Economics

Fifteen electric vehicles are selling balancing services to the PJM grid for $5 per day or about $1,800 per year.  Why should you care? It is one of the most important energy stories of 2013 to date.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/business/energy-environment/electric-vehicles-begin-to-earn-money-from-the-grid.html?pagewanted=all.

Electric vehicles monetizing their ability to provide grid ancillary services that maintain the grid's stability is a game changer for electric vehicles.  It radically changes their economics and could slash by itself the payback period of electric vehicles to just 3 to 5 years.

The 15 electric vehicles are equipped so that they can both take and feed power from and to the grid. These two-way charging vehicles earn money when they are supplying the grid with service that helps to keep it in balance and stable.

Those grid earnings reshape the economics of electric vehicles.  If one assumes that an electric vehicle costs about $10,000 more than a gasoline vehicle, and fuel savings are about $1,250 per year, the payback period is 8 years.

But if the electric vehicle can earn $1,800 per year for supplying "ancillary services" to the wholesale grid, as the 15 EVs are doing with PJM, then the payback period is a little more than 3 years.  That is a game changer.

Throw in the EVs ability to power a home when the grid is down, a function that Nissan is already including in advertising for the Leaf, and the value proposition for electric vehicles would become compelling for tens of millions of us.

Solar Foundation Jobs Map Is Treasure Trove Of Facts: Texas Has More Solar Jobs Than Ranchers

California is back creating jobs.  It created 268,000 jobs last year, and its booming solar industry alone provides 43,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs.  Indeed, according to the Solar Foundation, California has more solar jobs than actors and Texas more sun positions than ranchers.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/California-Has-More-Solar-Jobs-Than-Movie-Actors.

The Solar Foundation's solar jobs map has fascinating solar jobs information for each state. Take a look:
http://thesolarfoundation.org/blog/119000-jobs-strong-solar-foundation-releases-first-ever-solar-industry-jobs-numbers-all-50-stat.

As for Pennsylvania, solar jobs total 4,000 and most are in manufacturing.

Through August 2012, total national solar employment was 119,000 jobs and had grown 13% over the prior year.  The Solar Foundation expects solar jobs to grow 20% from 2012 to 2013, a ten times faster jobs growth rate than found in the national economy.

Hybrid Cars Hit 14% Of Toyota Sales & Make Toyota World's Number 1 Auto Manufacturer

What both is a key to making Toyota the world's number 1 manufacturer and driving down US oil demand? Hybrid autos and their growing sales.  Just consider these facts.

An impressive 14% of Toyota's sales are already hybrids, and the total is growing.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-17/toyota-hybrid-sales-gain-as-u-s-demand-offsets-slump-in-japan.html.

Toyota reports that ii sold more than 5 million hybrids globally, that sales of the Prius in the USA will be 250,000 this year, and that it is bringing to the market another 18 hybrid models.

Hybrid buyers look to lighten their gas costs and to lighten their environmental footprint and are achieving both as more and more hybrid models reach the marketplace.  Indeed, collectively hybrids are driving down US oil demand by using oil more efficiently and substituting electricity for oil in ever greater quantities.

Toyota and happy hybrid car drivers are driving forward revolutionary change in transportation!

Today I Annouce My Plan For World Class Drilling Regulation & Enforcement In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's public has lost confidence in Governor Corbett's oversight of the gas industry.  This crisis in public confidence is caused by the Governor's opposition to a gas drilling tax, his Administration's failure to hear and investigate fully and respectfully concerns and complaints, to having too few DEP staff regulating the gas industry, and a softer enforcement approach that has included a 50% drop in violations issued to the gas industry since 2010.

To remedy this crisis in public confidence, Pennsylvania must turn the page on Corbett's failed oversight of the gas industry.  My plan for world class drilling regulation and enforcement turns that page. 

My plan would cut by 90% air pollution from drilling operations; protect fully rivers and streams from being polluted by drilling wastewater; prevent more drilling in state forests and state parks; and enact a gas drilling tax like West Virginia.  Most of my plan could be implemented through the regulatory authority of the Governor.  Some of it like the drilling tax requires new legislation.

You can read the details about the gas drilling plan that includes flaring, pits, and well completions here:
http://www.hangerforgovernor.com/my_plan_to_enact_world_class_gas_drilling_standards.