Startling satellite data exposes invisible threat lingering in the air: 'Governments committed billions to technological upgrades'
The amount of methane gas in the atmosphere has increased by two-and-a-half times since the pre-industrial era. Technological advancements in oil and gas production and coal mining have largely caused this increase in methane gas pollution.
Technological innovation has also made detecting the sources of this pollution easier to identify. Scientists are using techs ranging from satellites, planes, drones, and hand-held devices to detect the pollution.
On Feb. 4, Momentick, a company that uses satellite imagery to detect, monitor, and stop planet-warming gas pollution, released its 2024 Methane Emissions Report.
The emissions intelligence company studied satellite imagery of nearly 277,000 square miles to identify methane pollution from oil and gas facilities. The satellite imagery showed that approximately 17% of the monitored facilities worldwide, one in six, are leaking large amounts of methane gas.
Besides polluting our air and environment, leaked methane gas represents wasted energy. The worldwide loss of methane gas in 2024, equivalent in its global warming potential to nearly a billion tons of carbon dioxide, could have supplied the monthly energy needs of roughly 300,000 U.S. households.
Methane is a heat-trapping pollutant. While methane leaks waste energy that could be used to heat households, stoves, and water heaters, the gas also accounts for about 30% of global heating.
Methane, an odorless, colorless, and highly flammable natural gas, stays in the atmosphere for a shorter amount of time than the most prominent anthropogenic planet-warming gas, carbon dioxide. The lifespan of the gas is about 10 years, while carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for at least hundreds of years.
This fact does not mean methane is an insignificant contributor to the overheating of our planet because methane gas is more potent. Its potency poses a threat both to the environment and to human health.
In Texas, 400,000 active oil and gas wells, compressor stations, and processing plants leak methane gas. The Center for Investigative Reporting found that more than 30,000 children in Arlington, Texas, attend public schools within half a mile of wells, and up to 7,600 daycare and preschool-aged children attend centers within the same radius.
These children are at risk of health impacts from the pollution, but so is everyone else. Families who live near methane-releasing facilities are at extreme risk of illness from the gas, though methane travels enough to harm any healthy person elsewhere.
Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home?
Yes — always
Yes — often
Yes — sometimes
No — never
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, efforts are being made to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas sectors in an attempt to protect the planet and people. More money is being put into detecting and identifying where methane gas is leaking.
Momentick CEO and co-founder Daniel Kashmir said, "2024 was an important year on the path to curbing methane emissions. Governments committed billions to technological upgrades and research, while oil and gas operators accelerated progress towards their net-zero goals."
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Yahoo
From Leader to Laggard? U.S. Faces Carbon Capture Slowdown as EU Surges Ahead
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has long been recognized as a critical technology for achieving net-zero emissions, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and chemicals. Historically, the United States has been at the forefront of CCS development, propelled by generous subsidies and tax incentives, notably the 45Q tax credit enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, recent policy developments in Europe signal a strategic shift that could redefine global leadership in CCS. The U.S. approach: A market-led model facing political uncertainty For years, the United States has been the global frontrunner in CCS deployment, thanks to a market-based approach centered around financial incentives. The 45Q tax credit, bolstered by the IRA, offered up to $85 per tonne of CO2 captured and stored in geological formations, and up to $180 per tonne for direct air capture (DAC) projects. These incentives sparked a surge of interest and investment, with over $320 billion in clean energy projects announced in the wake of the IRA—many incorporating CCS as a key decarbonization tool. The enthusiasm for CCS in the U.S. market remains strong. Companies and investors are still eager to pursue large-scale projects, and the technological expertise in CCS is considerable. However, the political landscape has introduced significant uncertainty. Proposed legislation to repeal or weaken key provisions of the IRA has created a cloud of doubt over the future of CCS incentives. Already, this policy instability has led to the cancellation or delay of major projects, with estimates suggesting that over $14 billion in clean energy investments have been shelved due to fears that the regulatory framework may political uncertainty undermines investor confidence and makes it harder for companies to commit to the long lead times and high capital costs required for CCS projects. As a result, while the interest and market potential for CCS in the U.S. remain strong, the momentum is at risk of stalling. Europe's regulatory mandate: A new model for CCS deployment In contrast, Europe is taking a more direct and regulatory-driven approach. Under the recently adopted Net-Zero Industry Act, the EU has introduced a groundbreaking requirement: oil and gas companies must collectively develop and reserve at least 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 storage capacity by 2030. This mandate is proportionally assigned, with each company's obligation based on its historical production levels, ensuring that those most responsible for emissions contribute the most to the solution. This shift marks a fundamental departure from the U.S. model. Rather than relying on voluntary market signals and financial incentives, Europe is creating a binding legal obligation—turning CCS from a niche technology into a critical pillar of its industrial decarbonization strategy. By designating these storage projects as Net-Zero Strategic Projects, the EU also accelerates permitting processes and unlocks access to funding mechanisms like the Innovation Fund, supported by revenues from the EU ETS. This regulatory certainty offers investors a stable environment in which to commit capital, reducing risk and providing a clear roadmap for the long-term development of CCS infrastructure. A shift in global momentum The contrasting approaches between the U.S. and Europe highlight a shifting dynamic in global CCS leadership. The U.S. market, once the undisputed leader in CCS due to its financial incentives, now faces a potential slowdown as policy uncertainty erodes confidence. While interest and market conditions for CCS in the U.S. remain strong, the lack of stability in the regulatory environment makes it difficult for projects to reach final investment decisions. Europe, by contrast, is creating a stable and predictable policy framework that reduces uncertainty and drives investment. By mandating the development of storage capacity, Europe ensures that the infrastructure will be in place to support decarbonization efforts across multiple sectors—from steel and cement to hydrogen and negative emissions technologies. This approach positions Europe as a growing center of gravity for CCS innovation, offering a blueprint that other regions may seek to emulate. Oil and gas companies as part of the solution In previous publications, I have discussed how oil and gas companies can contribute to the energy transition—not just as suppliers of fossil fuels, but as builders of critical infrastructure for a net-zero future. Europe's CO2 storage mandate is a clear example of this vision in action. By leveraging their expertise in subsurface operations, oil and gas companies can develop the storage capacity that will serve as the backbone of Europe's industrial decarbonization strategy. This is a tangible way for these companies to contribute positively to the transition, using their resources and knowledge to solve one of the most pressing challenges of the clean energy shift: where to safely and permanently store CO2. Conclusion The European Union's CO2 storage mandate is more than just a regulatory milestone—it is a turning point for the global CCS industry. By creating a legally binding requirement for storage development, Europe is providing the certainty that markets and investors need to scale up CCS projects. In contrast, the U.S., despite its early lead and the market's ongoing interest, risks losing momentum due to political instability and the potential rollback of critical incentives. This transatlantic divergence has far-reaching implications. As Europe accelerates its CCS deployment, it positions itself as a leader in the global race to decarbonize heavy industry. The U.S., meanwhile, faces the risk of ceding its leadership role unless it can provide stable and predictable policy support. The challenge now is clear: Europe must act swiftly to implement its ambitious plans, and the U.S. must ensure that political uncertainty does not undermine its CCS potential. The world is watching, and the choices made today will shape the industrial landscape of tomorrow. By Leon Stille for More Top Reads From this article on
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
New solar panel factory could cut installation costs to near zero for homeowners: 'Not just creating jobs'
One of the biggest clean energy manufacturing projects in North Carolina history has arrived. Vietnamese solar panel maker Boviet Solar opened a factory in Greenville, its first American facility. The grand opening of phase one of the factory was held in late April, about one year after the company announced it would be opening a factory there. The opening creates 460 new jobs for the area, with more than 900 coming with phase two. Right now, North Carolina is one of the nation's top solar energy producers. At the end of 2023, the state ranked fourth in solar generating capacity and fifth in solar power generation. This development creates jobs and also supports more than 100,000 clean energy positions across the state. "This facility is not just creating jobs but creating opportunity, innovation, and a stronger foundation for eastern North Carolina," Sen. Kandie Smith said at the grand opening. The factory also offers neighbors greater access to solar energy. Without the added expense of international shipping, the price of solar panels will likely go down, adding to energy cost savings of nearly 100%. Home solar is definitely having a moment right now, and 2025 could be the biggest year ever for the industry. Congress is considering an early end to the residential solar tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, which could now end on Dec. 31 of this year instead of the planned end date of Dec. 31, 2034. Those credits often save buyers around $10,000. Companies such as EnergySage, which provides a free service that makes it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers and navigate those savings on a solar installation, will be able to offer even better deals with the improvements in home solar tech driving down the costs of older tech as well. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
If some high school students can work on climate issues, surely you can, too
By now we know that climate change is one of the biggest threats to our collective futures. From coast to coast, devastating fires and hurricanes have destroyed homes and livelihoods and changed the landscape of our country. Closer to home, we've grown used to extreme weather and breathing the toxic air that wafts east from fires out West. Too many politicians have ignored these changes in the face of fossil fuel companies flooding the political and media ecosystem with cash and disinformation, and it's at times driven us to hopelessness. As high school seniors, we're rejecting hopelessness and channeling these frustrations into action. Our climate club started seven years ago, when we were in sixth grade. Although we were young, we were aware of the environmental damage occurring all around us. But seeing reduced snowfall in the winters and experiencing the warming of Lake Superior spurred us to do something. We eventually decided that getting solar panels for our school would be a good first step. Our original plan was to encourage our district leaders to install a 40 kilowatt solar array on our middle school, enough to offset the electricity used by the gym lights. We researched, collaborated with energy experts from the city, and presented our findings to the Duluth School Board. Despite the energy savings and carbon reduction the panels would bring, it was too expensive. We didn't let that stop us though. We sought solutions. We went to the Legislature, and lobbied and testified for the passage of the Solar for Schools Grant, a program providing funding to schools across Minnesota for solar panels. To this day, over 150 schools in the state have used this resource. When the pandemic arrived, we were frequently out of school and our club's numbers suffered as a result. Last year, however, we restarted the club with renewed passion. We quickly gained nearly 30 members and continued to pursue our original goal of solar for our district. Again, we researched, worked with professionals, and worked up a plan. Last June, we spoke at a school board listening session and explained the risks of the climate crisis to all of us, as well as the opportunity in solar and for Duluth to become a leader in renewable energy. We discussed how the Solar for Schools Grant and Inflation Reduction Act (now at risk from the Trump administration) would drastically reduce the price of a solar array, large or small. We got the school district on board with a project, and they have since submitted an application for the Solar for Schools Grant. They are planning on pursuing an array of about 100 kilowatts on the administration building, which is smaller than we hoped for, but is still a step in the right direction. Hopefully, our school district will recognize the environmental and economic benefit of solar, and install more in the future. As young people, we are constantly reminded that we will be the generation to fix climate change. (The headlines and horror stories and our own personal experiences are reminders enough; you all can stop telling us now!) We also want to stress that combating climate change will require hard work from all of us, not just young people. From our seven years of work on this project, we have learned that everyone and anyone can pitch in, but putting ideas into practice takes work. We all need to start doing more and pushing others to do more. One easy thing everyone can do is banish hopelessness and demoralization. These mentalities, although they are often our initial reaction to bad news, only give us an excuse for inaction. We hope our story about a little climate club illustrates that we all have the power to make our own decisions, and stem the tide of the climate crisis. The young people are asking you to try. Let's do it together.
