Publications - Environmental Defense

Graphs: Benefits of clean cars

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:47:22 +0000

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-05-24

Series of 5 graphs showing oil savings, consumer savings and greenhouse gas reductions from recent and anticipated vehicle standards.

Testimony: EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas standards for new power plants, Washington

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:34:43 +0000

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-05-24

Mandy Warner, Climate & Air Policy Specialist

Testimony: EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas standards for new power plants, Chicago

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:37:01 +0000

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-05-24

Robert Collier, Research Analyst

Seven growth sectors driving California's clean and efficient economy

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:51:56 +0000

Publication Date:

Wed, 2012-05-23

Seven growth sectors driving California's clean and efficient economy

EPA carbon pollution standards

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:20:23 +0000

EPA’s proposed carbon pollution emission standards would establish first nationwide limits on climate-destabilizing pollution from new power plants.

EPA’s proposed carbon pollution emission standards would establish the first nationwide limits on climate-destabilizing pollution from new power plants, essentially halving the emission rate for new coal plants relative to uncontrolled levels.

Fact sheets

Testimony

EDF staffers testified at public hearings about the proposed standards hosted by EPA in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Mandy Warner at Washington, D.C. hearing
May 24, 2012
Rob Collier at Chicago hearing
May 24, 2012

Staff expert

Megan Ceronsky Attorney Areas of expertise: Climate change, air quality, energy Office: Boulder, Colorado Contact Megan

Related: EPA climate litigation

Learn what's at stake, the polluters involved and recent updates from the courts »

Media contact
Sharyn Stein
202/572-3396 (office)
Email Sharyn

Wed, 2012-05-23

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l2BaNHtVNmzrPP-dKK2-w9udlAdE9wyKa41OJwC5gD8/...

Natural gas: challenge or opportunity?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:53:18 +0000

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-05-17

Natural gas could be a game-changer—but only if it can be extracted safely.

Accelerating the clean energy revolution

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:36:38 +0000

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-05-17

Our goal is an electric grid as interactive as the Internet: open to entrepreneurs and innovation, including low-carbon resources.

Statement as Delivered by Sara Hopper, Agricultural Policy Director

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:33:33 +0000

Concerning - Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Conservation Programs

Publication Date:

Fri, 2012-04-27

Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry

Role of offsets in California’s cap-and-trade regulation

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:01:51 +0000

Publication Date:

Fri, 2012-04-13

Offsets help unlock the potential of California’s cap-and-trade program, the cornerstone of AB 32.

Natural gas and the invisible spill: How much methane is reaching the atmosphere?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:29:04 +0000

External Link:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2111562,00.html

External Link Source:

Time

Publication Date:

Tue, 2012-04-10

Time.com story on methane leakage quoting EDF scientists Ramon Alvarez and Steve Hamburg.

What will it take to get sustained benefits from natural gas?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:21:57 +0000

Paper and model show climate impacts of methane leakage from natural gas

Paper and model quantify what it will take to get sustained benefits from natural gas.

An enhanced method for assessing climate impacts from natural gas development and use is offered in Greater focus needed on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure, a scientific paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences co-authored, with others, by EDF scientists Ramon Alvarez and Steve Hamburg.

The paper illustrates the importance of accounting for methane leakage across the value chain of natural gas (i.e. production, processing and delivery) when considering fuel-switching scenarios from gasoline, diesel fuel and coal to natural gas.

Key findings of the PNAS paper, based on the best available estimates on methane emissions from the EPA, include:

Assuming the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 leakage rate of 2.4% (from well to city), new natural gas combined cycle power plants reduce climate impacts compared to new coal plants; this case is true as long as leakage remains under 3.2%.
Assuming EPA’s estimates for leak rates, compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles are not a viable mitigation strategy for climate change because of methane leakage from natural gas production, delivery infrastructure and from the vehicles themselves. For light-duty CNG cars to become a viable short-term climate strategy, methane leakage would need to be kept below 1.6% of total natural gas produced (approximately half the current amount for well to wheels – note difference from well to city).
Methane emissions would need to be cut by more than two-thirds to immediately produce climate benefits in heavy duty natural gas-powered trucks.
At current leakage rate estimates, converting a fleet of heavy duty diesel vehicles to natural gas would result in nearly 300 years of climate damage before any benefits were achieved.

Related resources

Methane leakage model

Our economics team has created a methane leakage model based on the science in the PNAS paper. The model explores the climate implications of reducing emissions from natural gas systems in the context of a switch towards natural gas-fueled technologies.

To use the model, enter a policy case of desired values for natural gas leak rates and sector fuel mixes. Power plant efficiencies can also be modified. The model outputs a graph and summary table of the impact of that policy case on the climate. Results are represented as a percentage change in net radiative forcing relative to 2010 U.S. emissions.

Model, user guide and sample scenarios

Read and download the paper

Greater focus needed on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure

Paper available from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Paper FAQs

EDF co-authors

Steven Hamburg Chief Scientist Email Steven

Ramon Alvarez Senior Scientist Email Ramon

Paper co-authors: Stephen Pacala, James Winebrake, William Chameides

Model download

Methane leakage model Microsoft Excel [XLS]Version 1.2 for Windows

Model user guide [PDF]

EDF economist contacts

Susanne Brooks Senior Economic Policy Analyst Email Susanne

Jonathan Camuzeaux Research Analyst Email Jonathan

Questions? Contact us

Mica OdomEnergy Media Director (512) 691-3451 (office) (512) 619-8453 (cell) Email Mica

Mon, 2012-04-09

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D9RzNq5uLk7DtS1GFXxZWbH1Oq1MUNdiB08fRHkNdDw/...

California to eliminate upfront cost of energy efficiency

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:58:41 +0000

External Link:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/03/28/california-poised-to-launch-...

Publication Date:

Fri, 2012-03-30

California Poised To Launch Program Eliminating The Upfront Cost Of Energy Efficiency And Solar Upgrades

March 2012: The Colorado River

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:31:20 +0000

Celebrating Arizona’s Rivers

Publication Date:

Thu, 2012-03-29

Often called the ―lifeblood of the West,‖ the Colorado River drains areas of seven U.S. and two Mexican states

The Houston Barge System

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:07:00 +0000

Publication Date:

Tue, 2012-03-27

Examines operations and air emissions in the Houston tug and barge industry and identifies opportunities to establish emissions reduction targets.

Turn towards climate safety

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:24:26 +0000

Publication Date:

Mon, 2012-03-19

In the critical period from now until 2020 global emissions must start to decline.

States Have Led the Way in Curbing Carbon Pollution from New Power Plants

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:37:30 +0000

Publication Date:

Wed, 2012-03-14

States Have Led the Way in Curbing Carbon Pollution from New Power Plants

Naomi Klein is half right: Distorted markets are the real problem

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:04 +0000

External Link:

http://grist.org/climate-change/naomi-klein-is-half-right-distorted-markets-are-...

External Link Source:

Grist

Publication Date:

Wed, 2012-03-14

Gernot Wagner responds to Naomi Klein's claim that free markets won't solve the climate crisis.

Innovation is not enough: Why polluters must pay

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:01:42 +0000

External Link:

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/innovation_is_not_enough_why_polluters_must_pay/250...

External Link Source:

Yale Environment 360

Publication Date:

Mon, 2012-03-12

Gernot Wagner argues we must also cap emissions or put a price on carbon in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The upside hedge value of California’s global warming policy given uncertain future oil prices

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:34:45 +0000

Publication Date:

Mon, 2012-02-27

Published in Energy Policy

How to extract gas responsibly

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:36:48 +0000

External Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/opinion/nocera-how-to-frack-responsibly.html

External Link Source:

The New York Times

Publication Date:

Mon, 2012-02-27

Our president, Fred Krupp, and chief scientist, Steven Hamburg, are featured in Joe Nocera's column.