Bummer: Methane Is Leaking From Dams And Reservoirs

Now, I will 100% agree that methane is a potent greenhouse gas. It doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere than CO2, but, it is considerably more potent. So, um, what’s the solution here?

A gas that causes climate change is bubbling out of reservoirs

Methane, the second-biggest contributor to climate change, is spewing into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry, landfills and dairy farms. It’s also coming from another lesser-known source: reservoirs.

As plants break down underwater, they form methane, which then bubbles to the surface. California doesn’t monitor how much is coming from these waters, but now several environmental groups are urging air regulators to find out, and some experts agree it’s important.

“Reservoirs constitute an important source of methane,” said John Harrison, a professor at Washington State University’s School of the Environment who studies the greenhouse gases that reservoirs emit.

Tracking it, he said, would help California make better decisions about hydropower as part of its energy mix and “enhance the state’s status as a climate policy leader.”

OK, other than studying it (and getting all that government money), what do you want to do about it? End the dams and reservoirs?

The coalition of environmental groups — including Friends of the River, Tell The Dam Truth and five other organizations, as well as the clothing company Patagonia — submitted a petition last month saying the California Air Resources Board should require reports on greenhouse gases from dams and reservoirs. They oppose dams because they harm rivers.

Yes, yes they do. After getting lots of scam money.

They found that some hydropower plants give off small amounts of planet-heating gases, while in some extreme cases, emissions can be “greater than those from coal-fired power plants” per kilowatt of electricity generated.

For decades, damming rivers has generated bitter fights in places around the world, and international lenders have come under pressure not to support new projects. But there are currently 3,700 new hydroelectric facilities planned or under construction around the world, so scientists say it’s important to thoroughly analyze the long-term climate footprint of each project.

“We should recognize that hydropower is not a carbon-free — in the sense that it has no greenhouse gas emissions — source of electricity,” said Steven Hamburg, EDF’s chief scientist and the study’s co-author. “In building any new facilities, we want to carefully look at those impacts and minimize them.”

I understand why the extreme-enviroweenies hate dams, but, the cultists told us water power was super green and carbon neutral. No?

It’s also important when planning any new dam, Harrison said, to analyze how much greenhouse gases it will release into the atmosphere over its lifespan.

The California Air Resources Board plans to respond to the petition by the end of July.

These are unelected bureaucrats who will make decisions that will, get this, make power even more expensive in California. Have fun! You voted for this.