To be fair, that’s only if it escapes. If you burn it, the reaction is CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O. Not saying it’s great and that some doesn’t escape but it’s definitely better than coal lol
Is it actually better than coal though? It takes very little methane leakage to be as damaging as coal. Methane is shitty and we really shouldn’t celebrate any of its use.
Maybe not if you just look at the climate change aspect but burning coal also has a significant effect on air quality due to all the random shit in it. That said I certainly wouldn’t celebrate switching to methane it’s still basically like the third worst option.
I mean, if I make the following point on his behalf, he might have a leg to stand on: by increasing methane dependence we increase the likelihood of a leak. However, it’s pretty clear he’s got an uniformed opinion or is just shooting from the hip.
I don’t like switching to NG; they should have just bit the bullet and gone solar, wind, hydro, nuclear or some combination thereof. The decision to go to NG was likely both financially (cost of shuttering coal projects rather than converting) and economically (got to appease our oil and gas overlords somehow) motivated. Just look at the fucking renewables moratorium…
Also lmao at Notely accomplishing an objective years after the fact, while Kenney and Smith were too busy flipping pancakes at the stampede.
To be fair, that’s only if it escapes. If you burn it, the reaction is CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O. Not saying it’s great and that some doesn’t escape but it’s definitely better than coal lol
Well pointed out. Too bad the emissions are higher than anyone connected with the industry is willing to admit.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/12/11/Alberta-Methane-Super-Emitter/#
https://www.iea.org/news/methane-emissions-from-the-energy-sector-are-70-higher-than-official-figures
Is it actually better than coal though? It takes very little methane leakage to be as damaging as coal. Methane is shitty and we really shouldn’t celebrate any of its use.
https://www.npr.org/2023/07/14/1187648553/natural-gas-can-rival-coals-climate-warming-potential-when-leaks-are-counted
Maybe not if you just look at the climate change aspect but burning coal also has a significant effect on air quality due to all the random shit in it. That said I certainly wouldn’t celebrate switching to methane it’s still basically like the third worst option.
Coal is so much worse than just the greenhouse gases. I’d much rather deal with methane leaks than clouds of cancer-causing particulates
from a heavy metals perspective and from a particulate perspective, yes, it’s much better than coal.
Exactly this.
I mean, if I make the following point on his behalf, he might have a leg to stand on: by increasing methane dependence we increase the likelihood of a leak. However, it’s pretty clear he’s got an uniformed opinion or is just shooting from the hip.
I don’t like switching to NG; they should have just bit the bullet and gone solar, wind, hydro, nuclear or some combination thereof. The decision to go to NG was likely both financially (cost of shuttering coal projects rather than converting) and economically (got to appease our oil and gas overlords somehow) motivated. Just look at the fucking renewables moratorium…
Also lmao at Notely accomplishing an objective years after the fact, while Kenney and Smith were too busy flipping pancakes at the stampede.
Don’t forget about geothermal. Could be a good option in places where you have a workforce with skills at drilling deep underground.