ABOUT THAT NATURAL GAS BRIDGE

Report: Natural Gas from Shale Not Suitable as "Bridge Fuel," May Worsen Climate Change; Researchers Note Gas Emissions From Marcellus Shale and Other Sites Linked to Significant Increased Risk of Near-Term Climate Change
January 19, 2012 (Hastings Group)

"Far from being a “solution” to climate change, natural gas extracted from shale is a huge contributor of greenhouse gases when both methane and carbon dioxide are considered, according to a major new study by three Cornell University researchers.

"The natural gas industry already accounts for almost a fifth (17 percent) of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions inventory, when analyzed using recently available new evidence. This percentage is predicted to grow to almost one quarter (23 percent) as shale gas continues to replace conventional natural gas."

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"Methane, which is a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, is the culprit, according to…Venting and Leaking of Methane from Shale Gas Development…[by Robert Howarth, Renee Santoro, and Anthony Ingraffea. It] follows up on the [Howarth’s] groundbreaking April 2011 paper…Rather than understating the impact by looking only at shale gas used for electricity generation (just 30 percent of U.S. usage), the studies also look at heat generation (the largest use) over both a 20- and 100-year time frame…

"The 20-year time frame is particularly important, the authors explain, because it may well be the timing for a “tipping point” for climate change if emissions are not brought under immediate control…[M]ethane makes up 44 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions when considered on the 20-year time frame…[and] 17 percent of the entire man-made greenhouse gas emission inventory of the U.S…"