EPA proposes limiting greenhouse gases from existing power plants
Thursday, May 11, 2023
The Biden administration recently proposed the first regulations to limit greenhouse gasses from existing power plants, adding to a string of climate policies intended to reduce the U.S.’s contribution to global warming, according to The New York Times.
The proposed climate policies are part of a greater effort to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the U.S.’s energy sector by 2040.
The recent proposal to regulate power plants follows the Biden administration’s plans to cut automobile emissions by speeding up the U.S.’s transition to electric vehicles, to reduce methane leaks from oil and gas wells and to phase down the use of a planet-warming chemical in refrigerants.
Learn more: The New York Times > E.P.A. Proposes First Limits on Climate Pollution From Existing Power Plants
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.