"Natural" Gas the Non-Renewable Dirty Fossil Fuel
“Natural Gas” is often touted as a clean alternative to other fossil fuels. And while it does produce lower CO2 emissions when burned, when vented directly into the air as vapor it is 20 times more harmful as greenhouse gas.
The greenhouse gas power of methane produced by natural gas production negates any savings in CO2 emissions.
Lost & Unaccounted Gas
Lost natural gas through leaking pipes accounts for at least 45 percent of Massachusetts’ methane emissions for large, stationary facilities. 19 Utilities serving Massachusetts reported releasing between 1.1 and 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas into the atmosphere in 2011, accounting for between 45 and 58 percent of the commonwealth’s methane emissions for large, stationary facilities, as reported to the Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas Registry. (Sen Markey’s 2013 report)
Most recent Gas Explosion in PA 2016
High Pressure pipeline explosions
Deteriorating Infrastructure
More significant pipeline incidents in Massachusetts involved cast iron or other high-risk pipes. Incidents are four times more likely to occur on cast iron mains than mains made of other materials, according to an analysis of national pipeline incidents by the U.S Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).27 In Massachusetts, 57 percent of the significant incidents from 2002-2012—attributable to human error, leaks, natural forces, excavation damage, and a variety of other causes— occurred around segments of the distribution system utilizing cast iron or steel pipe .
Deteriorating Infrastructure
More significant pipeline incidents in Massachusetts involved cast iron or other high-risk pipes. Incidents are four times more likely to occur on cast iron mains than mains made of other materials, according to an analysis of national pipeline incidents by the U.S Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).27 In Massachusetts, 57 percent of the significant incidents from 2002-2012—attributable to human error, leaks, natural forces, excavation damage, and a variety of other causes— occurred around segments of the distribution system utilizing cast iron or steel pipe .
Fracked Gas
Fracked gas is packed into the pipelines at high pressure, increasing the likelihood of leaks, ruptures and/or explosions. Major effects of these accidents vary from collapsed structures and injuries and sustained fire supplied by the fuel in the pipeline in the case of explosions, to environmental contamination and health impacts from volatile chemicals contained in the gas from non-exploding leaks.
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