EPA methane research welcome, but no substitute for renewables
Statement from Earthworks' Policy Director Lauren Pagel
Earthworks
April 15, 2014
“Earthworks welcomes today’s release by the Environmental Protection Agency of five white papers related to methane emissions from oil and gas development. We are pleased the Obama administration is seeking expert input in assessing the extent of the problem and how to deal with it.
The time to act on methane pollution from oil and gas development is now. The administration’s own National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with Stanford, Harvard, Purdue and other scientific institutions have already sounded the alarm about the oil and gas industry’s threat to our climate.
While we encourage the EPA to do everything within its power to stop methane emissions from oil and gas production, that is no substitute for dropping dirty fossil fuels replacing them with truly clean alternatives like conservation and renewable energy.
Ultimately, the President can't have it both ways. He can fight climate change, or he can promote fracking and unconventional oil and gas production. He can’t do both."
For more information:
Contact:
- Lauren Pagel, 202-887-1872x107
- Alan Septoff, 202-887-1872x105
EPA White Papers on Methane and VOC Emissions
EPA drastically underestimates methane released at drilling sites
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