Environmental Groups Urge California to Track Methane Emissions from Reservoirs
Environmental organizations, including Friends of the River and Patagonia, are petitioning the California Air Resources Board to mandate monitoring of methane emissions from dams and reservoirs. While methane is widely recognized as a potent greenhouse gas emitted by industries like oil and agriculture, reservoirs remain a significant but unmonitored source in California. As organic matter decomposes underwater, it releases methane that bubbles into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Experts argue that tracking these emissions is crucial for accurate climate policy and energy decisions, especially as the state aims to reduce methane levels by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. Currently, measuring reservoir emissions is challenging due to dispersed plumes and technological limitations, though new airborne sensing equipment is expected to improve accuracy soon. The push for regulation highlights a critical blind spot in California’s climate strategy, with opponents of new projects like the Sites Reservoir citing high emission estimates. This initiative seeks to enhance transparency and reinforce California’s role as a global leader in climate action by accounting for all major sources of greenhouse gases.
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Environmental Groups Urge California to Track Methane Emissions from Reservoirs
Environmental organizations, including Friends of the River and Patagonia, are petitioning the California Air Resources Board to mandate monitoring of methane emissions from dams and reservoirs. While methane is widely recognized as a potent greenhouse gas emitted by industries like oil and agriculture, reservoirs remain a significant but unmonitored source in California. As organic matter decomposes underwater, it releases methane that bubbles into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Experts argue that tracking these emissions is crucial for accurate climate policy and energy decisions, especially as the state aims to reduce methane levels by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. Currently, measuring reservoir emissions is challenging due to dispersed plumes and technological limitations, though new airborne sensing equipment is expected to improve accuracy soon. The push for regulation highlights a critical blind spot in California’s climate strategy, with opponents of new projects like the Sites Reservoir citing high emission estimates. This initiative seeks to enhance transparency and reinforce California’s role as a global leader in climate action by accounting for all major sources of greenhouse gases.
latimes