HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-20-2017 - 4-d - Proposed Resolution Regarding Reduction of Methane Emissions 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 20, 2017
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-d
SUBJECT: Proposed Resolution Regarding Reduction of Methane Emissions
DEPARTMENT: Board of County
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proposed Resolution from NCWARN Commissioner Mark Marcoplos, 919-
245-2130
Thomas Davis, 919-245-2510
David Stancil, 919-245-2510
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution to petition the Governor of North Carolina to
enact certain measures intended to reduce emissions of methane related to the use of natural
gas and power generation.
BACKGROUND: As initially introduced at the June 6, 2017 Board of County Commissioners
meeting, this resolution petitions the Governor of North Carolina to take steps to reduce
emissions of methane associated with the increased use of natural gas produced through the
process of hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). Natural gas is often termed a "bridge" interim source
of energy on the path to a future where renewable energy sources dominate. However, the
production and use of natural gas often includes sizeable releases of methane, a very
significant greenhouse gas.
The attached resolution asks the Governor of North Carolina to take steps to reduce the use of
natural gas in North Carolina that is produced by fracking, as well as prevent the transport of
natural gas produced by fracking through North Carolina, and prevent the construction of new
natural gas fired power plants and pipelines in the state while existing natural gas fired power
plants and pipelines are replaced with sources of renewable energy.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to Orange County associated with
consideration of this resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes
and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no
group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental
2
consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or
policies
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss and consider
adoption of the attached resolution.
RES-2017-043 3
RESOLUTION TO SLOW THE CLIMATE CRISIS BY REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS
FROM THE FRACKED GAS AND POWER INDUSTRIES
WHEREAS, an unprecedented, three-year global heat wave,1 ongoing sea level rise and increasingly
intense weather extremes are already devastating communities, wildlife and property in North Carolina
and around the world;2
WHEREAS, those least responsible for causing this crisis have been hurt first and worst, primarily low-
wealth communities and people of color, and humanity is quickly running out of time to slow this
enormous challenge before it accelerates under its own momentum beyond our control;
WHEREAS, methane is 80-100 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping Earth's heat,3 and has
become the driving force behind the rapid heating of the planet;4
WHEREAS, large amounts of natural gas —which is mostly methane — are being vented and leaked
directly into the air from various gas equipment, with emissions measured at rates of up to 12% of the
total gas produced by wells using fracking technology;5
WHEREAS, these emissions make burning natural gas for electricity at least three times worse for the
climate than coal,6 in addition to other health impacts and explosion risks;'
WHEREAS, the recent surge in methane emissions is largely due to the US fracking boom,' which is being
driven by Duke Energy and other utilities' expanded use of gas to generate electricity;9
WHEREAS, most US gas and electricity corporations are fighting efforts to reduce methane emissions;1°
WHEREAS, reducing methane emissions can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively while creating
thousands of jobs;11 and
WHEREAS, immediately reducing methane emissions from the US natural gas industry can slow global
warming enough to allow time to replace fossil fuels with cheaper clean energy such as solar, wind and
storage technologies;12 now therefore be it
RESOLVED that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper shall use his constitutionally-granted executive
authority to ensure that:
• by December 31, 2018 no natural gas originating from fracking operations is used in or
transported through North Carolina;
• by December 31, 2022 no other natural gas is used in or transported through North Carolina unless
it can be verified that the methane emissions associated with its production, transportation, and
end use are at most 0.5% of gas pumped from the well; and
• no new natural gas-fired power plants or pipelines are constructed in North Carolina, and all
existing gas plants and pipelines are phased out expeditiously and replaced with clean, renewable
energy.
March 2017
4
�
NOAA and NASA reported that 2016 was the hottest year on record for the global average, the third consecutive
record-setting year. "Earth sets heat record for third straight year,"Associated Press,January 19, 2017.
2 "Global warming's fingerprints seen in 24 weird weather cases," Associated Press, December 15, 2016.
y
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis; 201I
° Dr. Robert Howarth from Cornell University stated at a December 13, 20I6 press conference, "So the take honne
message is that shale gas and shale oil development in the United States is having a demonstrable effect on
atmospheric methane and that is causing the increased rate of global warming we're seeing."
Leading climatologist James Hansen has cited the "resurging growth" of atmospheric methane as a leading cause of
the recent acceleration of global warming. James Hansen, et al., "Young People's Burden: Requirement of Negative
CO2Emissions,^ Earth System Dynamics, October 4, 2016.
5
Fracking for natural gas leads to an average of 5.8% of natural gas produced leaking into the atmosphere over the
lifetime of the well. Dr. Robert W. Howarth, Cornell University, "A bridge to nowhere: methane emissions and the
greenhouse gas footpdnt of naturaL gas," Energy Science&Engineering, May 2015.
However, methane emissions rates have been observed to be as high as 12% over the supply chain from well head
to power plant. Howarth, "Methane emissions and climatic warming risk from hydraulic fracturing and shale gas
development: implications for policy," Energy and Emission Control Technologies, October 2015.
6
Howarth (footnote 5) says 5.8% of fracked gas is leaking but methane emissions exceeding a range of 1.196 to 1.996
of total natural gas production make natural gas worse than burning coal for electricity in terms of global warming.
Dr. Drew T. Shindell, Duke University, "The social cost of atmospheric release,"Climatic Change, May 2015.
r
Fracking causes myriad negative impacts beyond climate change, including harm to air and water quality, risks of
explosions, and increased earthquakes. People across the US are already being harmed by this dangerous practice.
The natural gas industry is fighting regulation of methane emissions and drilling practices although this would also
protect the safety of its workers and local communities. This is why, while reducing methane emissions is the most
urgent and feasible measure, the total phase-out of fracking in favor of cheaper, clean energy is imperative.
8
See reference to Dr. Howarth in #4 above.
Over two-thirds of all natural gas produced in the US now comes from wells that have been fracked (drilled using
hydraulic fracturing). US Energy Information Administration, "Hydraulically fractured wells provide two-thirds of US
natural gas production,^ May 5, 20lh.
o
The electric power industry accounted for 35% of US natural gas consumption in 2015. US Energy Information
Administration, "Natural gas explained: Use of natural gas," October 18, 2016.
m
"EPA methane leak rules take aim at climate change," The New York Times, May 12, 2016.
11
A 2014 study prepared for the Environmental Defense Fund found that over 76 firms in the US— most of them
small businesses— provide methane mitigation technologies and services. Datu Research, The Emergi US
Methane Mitigation/nourtry, October 20l4.
Another 2014 Environmental Defense Fund study found that a 40% reduction of onshore US methane emissions is
achievable with existing technologies and techniques and would save the US economy and consumers $100 million
per year. |[F International, Economic Analysis of Methane Emission Reduction Opportunities in the US Onshore C0
and Natural Gas Industries, March 2014.
12
Cornell University's Dr. Howarth has repeatedly said that, "The climate responds very quickly to methane, so if we
reduce our methane emissions from shale gas now, we will slow the rate of global warming, in fact, that is the only
way to avoid irreversible harm to the climate." Dr. Robert W. Howarth, Cornell University, "Methane emssons: The
greenhouse gas footrdnt of naturaL gas," September 2016.
NC WARN P.O. Box 61051 Durham, NC 27715 • 919-416 5077 ^ ncvvarnorg