Complete list of press releases

(AUSTIN, TX) Despite turbulent oil and gas markets and a crash in new drilling activity, a year’s worth of aerial survey data released today by EDF’s PermianMAP initiative reveals that operators’ inability to manage flaring has remained a consistent problem.

Flaring is the controversial practice of sending natural gas — which is mostly methane — up a pipe and igniting it, rather than capturing it for productive use. Flaring has come under increased scrutiny for contribution to air pollution and climate change, alongside the fact that it has resulted in the waste of billions of dollars’ worth of natural gas.

EDF scientists conducted four week-long surveys throughout 2020 to assess emissions from flaring in the United States’ largest oilfield. In each survey, roughly 5% of flares were entirely unlit and venting methane directly into the atmosphere, and an additional 5% were malfunctioning and only partially lit, failing to properly combust methane and driving up emissions. The repeated results affirm flaring’s outsized contribution to Permian methane emissions, and underscore producers’ ongoing inability to control the problem.

Photos, video, a map and infographics for media are available here.

EDF’s latest flaring survey reveals that malfunctioning flares are not just a common problem across the basin, but also a persistent one. Researchers observed the same flares repeatedly over a five-day period. Of the malfunctioning flares they discovered, over half had recurring malfunctions, and about a quarter never operated properly during the course of the survey.

The findings indicate voluntary efforts from industry have failed to address problems with flaring. As investors, the public and customers insist on low-emission products, commonsense policy from state leaders will be needed to reduce flaring and address the fact that it is a major source of the Permian’s methane footprint.

“This year of data makes it painfully clear that flaring performance has remained abysmal through the industry’s highs and lows,” said Colin Leyden, EDF director of regulatory and legislative affairs, Texas. “The science is clear that flaring cannot be an afterthought. Left unchecked, the practice is compounding industry’s methane problem at a time when investors and overseas markets are calling for cleaner production.”

EDF observed high rates of flaring malfunctions in both Texas and New Mexico. However, action to address the issue varies widely between the two states. Last fall, the Texas Railroad Commission adopted changes intended to reduce flaring. While a step in the right direction, they will not be sufficient alone to end routine flaring in the state.

Meanwhile, New Mexico’s Oil Conservation Division is currently advancing a new rule which would eliminate routine flaring and reduce natural gas waste, an important component — along with air pollution rules still under development by New Mexico’s Environment Department — of establishing requirements in line with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s push for nation-leading methane rules.

The best solution for reducing malfunctioning flares is to reduce flaring in the first place. A recent Rystad analysis shows doing so is highly cost-effective, 84% of routine flaring in the Permian could be eliminated at no net cost according to the report.

“Companies’ inability to do something as basic as keep their flares lit threatens our climate, wastes our resources and undermines our wellbeing,” said Jon Goldstein, EDF director of regulatory and legislative affairs, New Mexico. “This research underscores the importance of the strong rule proposed by the Oil Conservation Division to cut methane waste and end routine flaring.”

(TRENTON, NJ – Jan. 27, 2021) Four environmental groups today responded to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) approval of a partial settlement of Public Service Electric & Gas Company’s (PSE&G) Clean Energy Future Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Program. The settlement includes a $166.2 million investment in light-duty electric vehicle infrastructure, but delays any action on the critically important medium- and heavy-duty vehicle and energy storage portions of PSE&G’s original 2018 proposal.

Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Environment New Jersey filed comments for the BPU’s review of the proposed settlement, voicing concern at the watered-down initiative. PSE&G’s original proposal included $261 million for light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles as well as energy storage. In the proceeding, these organizations advocated for a more robust light-duty program, and more meaningful progress to lay the groundwork for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification. At a time when the New Jersey legislature and the BPU’s sibling agencies are taking steps to encourage fleet owners to purchase electric buses and trucks, this partial settlement increases the likelihood that the lack of charging infrastructure will continue to undermine those efforts.

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“Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for a disproportionately large amount of harmful emissions that negatively impact New Jersey’s public health,” said Elizabeth B. Stein, Lead Counsel, Energy Transition Strategy at Environmental Defense Fund. “While this proposal lays the groundwork to address pollution by electrifying transportation, the settlement parties and the Board have missed an important opportunity to address diesel truck and bus pollution in some of New Jersey’s most overburdened communities.”

“This settlement does not match the scale and scope of investment needed to achieve New Jersey’s ambitious climate goals,” said Kathy Harris, Clean Vehicles and Fuels Advocate at NRDC. “The transportation sector is by far the largest emitter of harmful greenhouse gases in New Jersey. While the state has set bold climate targets, we need an all hands-on deck approach. If New Jersey is going to achieve its climate goals, utilities must step it up – and fast.”

“The biggest source of air pollution and GHGs in New Jersey comes from the transportation sector. The BPU needs to be accelerating our electric vehicle programs, especially infrastructure. The lack of infrastructure leads to range anxiety, so instead of moving forward this settlement has us stuck in first gear,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We’re never going to meet our state goals for electrifying cars and trucks unless the BPU removes the roadblocks in the way. They need to lead when it comes to building the infrastructure we need to help create green jobs and move our green economy forward. This is especially important in Environmental Justice and low- and moderate-income communities.”

“The legislative mandate of the EV bill, the Clean Cars Act and the electric truck MOU creates a steep road forward to accelerate vehicle electrification and we need to use those aggressive benchmarks to guide our policy,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “We advocated for the inclusion of investments for the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles that was initially part of this settlement because the charging infrastructure for trucks, transit and school buses is a stumbling block on the path towards electrification. It is critical for NJBPU and utilities to prioritize these investments moving forward.”

En inglés

(Ciudad de México) - Un grupo de científicos internacionales, incluidos expertos del Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), observaron niveles excepcionalmente altos de contaminación por metano que escapa de las instalaciones de hidrocarburos en - Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz y la costa de Campeche - la mayor región productora de México. Las emisiones procedían principalmente de la quema de gas natural no utilizado a raíz de una infraestructura ineficiente en el sector hidrocarburos.

“Cuando las instalaciones petroleras mexicanas emiten metano, se están desperdiciando valiosos recursos domésticos energéticos, además de contaminar el clima y el aire”, dijo el autor principal del estudio y científico de EDF, el Dr. Daniel Zavala. “La cantidad de metano que se emite en un solo complejo procesador de gas en tierra, sería suficiente para satisfacer el 50% del consumo de gas residencial en México”, añadió.

El presente estudio, titulado “Una historia de dos regiones: Emisiones de metano en el sector de hidrocarburos en México”, publicado en Environmental Research Letters, destaca discrepancias cruciales en los inventarios de gases de efecto invernadero que afectan a la capacidad del país para asegurar una mayor eficiencia energética.

El estudio encontró que en las instalaciones de producción y procesamiento de gas y petróleo en tierra emiten más de 10 veces la cantidad de metano reportado en los inventarios, de manera inversa, las emisiones de las plataformas petroleras costa afuera fueron 10 veces más bajas. Los datos sugieren que el gas producido eficientemente costa afuera es transportado mediante ductos hacia las instalaciones terrestres y es ahí donde este se quema o se libera a la atmósfera.

Las emisiones de metano contribuyen a la contaminación del aire y son un poderoso agente de calentamiento global, que genera un impacto 80 veces mayor que el CO2 en las primeras dos décadas después de ser emitido. El metano es también el principal componente del gas natural, lo que significa que estas emisiones son un enorme desperdicio de recursos.

De acuerdo a este estudio, la quema de gas en esta región representa una pérdida de 100 mil millones de pies cúbicos de gas natural al año, o 4,000 millones de pesos al año. Esto equivale a trece veces el presupuesto anual de la ASEA (la agencia reguladora del sector hidrocarburos).

En 2018, México publicó regulaciones federales para establecer estándares claros para la industria respecto a la reducción de emisiones de metano en la cadena de suministro de hidrocarburos, normas que ayudarán a que México logre la meta establecida en un acuerdo trilateral con los EE. UU. y Canadá para reducir estas emisiones en un 40-45%. para 2025.

Medición del metano desde el cielo

Los investigadores de este estudio utilizaron aviones equipados con equipo especialmente diseñado para medir las emisiones de las instalaciones. Para verificar los hallazgos, los datos fueron comparados con las observaciones de TROPOMI, un satélite de la Agencia Espacial Europea.

Se encontró que el complejo procesador de gas Nuevo Pemex genera emisiones de metano más altas que las de toda la región de producción costa afuera del Golfo de México, donde se genera el 80% de la producción nacional de petróleo.

Un mejor entendimiento de los patrones y la proveniencia de las emisiones de metano es un paso fundamental para poder reducirlas. Este nuevo estudio forma parte de una serie de investigaciones auspiciadas por la Coalición por el Clima y el Aire Limpio de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), que tiene como objetivo acelerar las oportunidades de reducción de emisiones de metano en la industria del sector de hidrocarburos a nivel global.

“Descubrir las razones por las que existen tan vastas discrepancias en los datos puede ayudar a México a utilizar los métodos probados de captura de gas para garantizar los beneficios económicos, sociales y ambientales de reducir las emisiones de metano que provienen del sector de hidrocarburos”, añadió Zavala.

La reducción de la contaminación por metano es vital para tener un clima saludable y comunidades sanas, en particular para las personas que viven cerca de las instalaciones petroleras. Las fugas de metano suelen ir acompañadas de otros contaminantes que empeoran la calidad del aire y causan problemas respiratorios y enfermedades pulmonares. Además, el metano acelera el calentamiento global con lo cual se ponen en riesgo los ecosistemas costeros que sustentan a millones de mexicanos.”Rara vez hay situaciones de ganar-ganar, pero en el caso de reducir emisiones de metano tenemos un ejemplo”, dijo la Dra. Shareen Yawanarajah, Directora de Políticas Públicas en el Programa Global de Energía de EDF. “México debería adoptar un enfoque de “lo que no se usa, se pierde” para implementar las regulaciones y lograr al mismo tiempo mejorar la eficiencia energética, proteger a la salud, al clima y a los frágiles ecosistemas de los mares”.

En español

(Mexico City) A group of international scientists, including experts from Environmental Defense Fund, observed exceptionally high levels of methane pollution escaping from oil and gas facilities in Mexico’s largest producing region across the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz and the coast of Campeche. The emissions were coming mainly from inefficient industrial flares burring off unused natural gas.

“When Mexican oil and gas facilities leak methane, they are wasting valuable domestic energy resources and polluting the climate and air,” said the study’s author and EDF scientist, Dr. Daniel Zavala-Araiza. “The amount of methane leaking at just one onshore facility we studied was enough gas to meet the needs of 50% of Mexico’s residential gas customers,” he added.

This study entitled, “A tale of two regions: Methane emissions from oil and gas production in offshore/onshore Mexico” published in Environmental Research Letters, highlights crucial emission reporting discrepancies that impacts Mexico’s ability to secure energy savings through improved energy efficiency measures.

While emissions measured from onshore processing facilities were 10 times higher than the Mexican inventory reports, surveys of offshore oil rig emissions were inversely 10 times lower. The data suggests that the gas produced efficiently offshore is piped to inefficient land-based facilities where it is later flared or leaked.

Methane emissions contribute to air pollution and are a powerful global warming agent, trapping 80 times the warming power of CO2 per gram over two decades. Methane is also the main ingredient in natural gas, which means these emissions represent an enormous waste of a sellable product.

Emissions data showed a total resource loss of 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas, valued at $200M a year, or 13 times the annual budget of Agencia de Seguridad, Energia y Ambiente (ASEA), Mexico’s oil and gas regulator.

In 2018, Mexico published regulations to establish clear industry standards for methane emissions reductions across its oil and gas supply chain, regulations that will help Mexico achieve the goal established in a trilateral agreement with the U.S. and Canada to reduce these emissions by 40-45% by 2025.

Measuring methane from above

Researchers used airplanes outfitted with specially-designed equipment to measure emissions from the facilities. Data was then compared with readings from the European Space Agency’s TROPOMI satellite in order to verify findings.

A single onshore processing complex, Nuevo Pemex, was observed to have greater methane emissions than the entire Gulf of México offshore production region, which accounts for 80% of Mexico’s oil production.  

Better understanding the patterns and places where oil and gas methane emissions occur is a critical step to reducing them. The new study is part of a UN-hosted research series with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition that aims to uncover and accelerate methane reduction opportunities across the global oil and gas industry.

“Uncovering the reasons why such vast data discrepancies exist can help Mexico target proven gas capture methods to secure the economic, social and environmental benefits of oil and gas methane reductions,” said Zavala-Araiza.

Reducing methane pollution is vital for a healthy climate and healthy communities, particularly for people living near this development. Methane leaks are often accompanied by other pollutants that worsen air quality and cause respiratory problems and lung disease. Methane also accelerates global warming, which is destroying the coastal ecosystems that many Mexicans rely on for their livelihoods.

“Rarely are there issues like methane that present a winning proposition for all sides,” said Dr. Shareen Yawanarajah, EDF Senior Policy Manager for Global Energy. “Mexico should embrace a use it, don’t lose it approach to addressing methane and leverage its regulations to deliver on promised efficiency gains while protecting public health, the climate and fragile ocean ecosystems.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) “API’s credibility on methane regulations evaporated when it spent the Obama and Trump years attacking sensible regulatory measures to reduce emissions, even as many producers, utilities and investors took leadership positions. There is no reasonable debate on whether the federal government should regulate methane emissions. A broad coalition of stakeholders supports federal methane regulation of new and existing sources, and what matters now is speed and ambition.

“Any trade association efforts to weaken rulemakings will fall on deaf ears as the Biden administration overcomes years of lost time and achieves maximum emission reductions to protect the climate and communities, while helping industry improve. We encourage companies to demonstrate leadership by offering the data, experience and solutions to support ambitious policy responses that take advantage of emerging technologies and practices to cut emissions dramatically and pragmatically.”

• Ben N. Ratner, Senior Director, EDF+Business

“API’s credibility on methane regulations evaporated when it spent the Obama and Trump years attacking sensible regulatory measures to reduce emissions, even as many producers, utilities and investors took leadership positions. There is no reasonable debate on whether the federal government should regulate methane emissions. A broad coalition of stakeholders supports federal methane regulation of new and existing sources, and what matters now is speed and ambition.

“Any trade association efforts to weaken rulemakings will fall on deaf ears as the Biden Administration overcomes years of lost time and achieves maximum emission reductions to protect the climate and communities, while helping industry improve. We encourage companies to demonstrate leadership by offering the data, experience, and solutions to support ambitious policy responses that take advantage of emerging technologies and practices to cut emissions dramatically and pragmatically.”

(WASHINGTON – January 4, 2021) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today released targeted ads to support its Power Up, America campaign, a major effort to promote clean transportation and clean energy infrastructure to boost the economy, create jobs, cut harmful pollution and build healthier communities. This $750,000 digital ad buy in West Virginia, Colorado and Arizona will rally support for policies that strengthen America’s economic competitiveness while cleaning up the largest sources of climate pollution in the United States.

“These ads are a reminder that investing in U.S. manufacturing, clean transportation and clean energy is a smart way to create jobs and build toward a healthier future. Boosting the economy and reducing pollution are broadly popular and present a pathway to bridging divisions in the country and Congress,” said Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President for Political Affairs at EDF. “The bipartisan clean energy provisions in the end-of-year COVID-19 relief bill demonstrate that we can make progress — now it’s time to build on that momentum.”

Power Up, America is EDF’s call for 100% clean electric power by 2035, zero pollution cars by 2035, and zero emission trucks and buses by 2040. Transitioning to a zero-emission transportation sector will put over one million people to work, build up our manufacturing base to boost our COVID-battered economy and make American businesses more competitive in international trade — while tackling the country’s leading source of climate pollution. The campaign will continue across the country in the months ahead.

(SANTA FE, NM) The New Mexico Environment Department released new data today from a series of overflights that reveal methane emissions from oil and gas operations increased significantly from 2019 to 2020 and suggested improved oversight would be necessary to significantly reduce this pollution. Methane is a potent climate pollutant responsible for at least a quarter of current global warming.

“We are thankful to Secretary Kenney and the hardworking staff of the New Mexico Environment Department for their commitment to science and for their call for stronger rules and enforcement. This effort underlines how requirements like frequent instrument-based inspections can clean up the air and protect neighboring communities.”

• Jon Goldstein, Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

The research is in line with a November analysis from EDF that estimates the state is likely emitting over one million tons of methane emissions a year, and with science-based measurements measuring methane emissions in the Permian Basin, indicating that problems with malfunctioning and/or unlit flares are a significant source of methane emissions.

“Michael Regan took the helm as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality when it had been battered much the way EPA has been these last four years. He quickly restored morale and then solved big problems by respecting science and bringing together people with different views — that’s how he’s been so effective protecting public health and the environment in North Carolina’s divided government.

“As an Environmental Defense Fund staffer from 2008 to 2016, Michael Regan led our efforts to grow clean energy and demonstrated a talent for working with unexpected allies to achieve environmental progress. He was on point for the historic Save-A-Watt program, the first utility lead energy efficiency program in the Southeast. He led work that helped modernize the grid in Ohio and New York.

“In North Carolina, as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality for the past four years, he has led a large and complex agency with skill, openness to new ideas and a determination to achieve real results for the people of his state. Michael took over during a difficult time in the agency’s history, after years of budget cutting and turmoil. Michael’s work led to the largest excavation of toxic coal ash in the nation’s history. He successfully tackled the PFAS pollution from Chemours, leading to a 99% reduction in discharges and a major clean up. Michael’s collaborative approach has allowed him to build durable policies that promote clean air and clean water alongside a strong economy.

“The selection of Michael Regan makes it clear that Joe Biden is serious about making real progress on climate change, improving public health and addressing environmental justice. He will ensure that science, law and a commitment to a healthier future will be at the center of America’s environmental policies. I am thrilled that this great leader will be guiding the EPA at this critical moment, as we determine what kind of future we will leave to our children and grandchildren.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 11, 2020) Today the District of Columbia Public Service Commission approved Washington Gas Light Company’s Project Pipes 2 plan to continue replacing leak-prone pipe for the next three years, including an advanced leak detection pilot program. Advanced leak detection technology and data analytics (ALD+) allows gas utilities to identify and quantify methane leaks on their system with greater speed and accuracy than traditional survey methods. As the District strives towards ambitious climate goals, reducing methane emissions from the gas distribution system is an essential step.

“Advanced leak detection technology and data analytics will help Washington Gas find and measure methane leaks so that replacement of leak-prone pipe can be prioritized to reduce emissions faster. The commission’s approval of the ALD+ proposal is an important step forward in reducing methane leaks across the District.

“EDF supports Washington Gas Light’s adoption of advanced leak detection and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Washington Gas and the Public Service Commission to ensure that the utility’s operations align with the District’s climate goals. D.C. has adopted ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and further planning and changes to Project Pipes will be required to meet those goals.” 

• Erin Murphy, Attorney, Energy Markets and Utility Regulation

(Albany, NY – December 10, 2020) Investors, regulators, customers and the public are best served when the risks that energy companies face due to climate change are fully disclosed, according to three leading experts on the issue. Environmental Defense Fund, the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law, and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School have filed comments strongly in support of an action by the New York Public Service Commission which would do just that.

The Commission is responsible for regulating New York’s electric and gas utilities, among others, and is considering whether to require those companies to disclose the risks that climate change poses to their assets and operations.

The groups submitted joint comments to the Commission in support of the approach, saying:

“New York is well positioned to lead on utility-specific climate-related disclosure requirements … Mandatory disclosure standards are necessary, and the Commission’s Order is a timely and important step toward greater — and much needed — clarity and coherence with respect to the identification and disclosure of climate-related risks by utilities.” (Comments, page 6)

Risk disclosure is a vital component of the U.S. financial system. Publicly-traded companies issue financial reports with detailed plans for addressing a wide variety of risks they may encounter in their future – but those reports rarely include more than vague or perfunctory information about the risks the companies face from climate change. Revealing the risks created by climate change can unlock far-reaching benefits for electric utilities, their customers and the public more broadly, from cost savings to improved electric reliability to enhanced state efforts to address the public safety threat that climate change causes.

Electric and gas utilities are among the companies most at risk from the impacts from climate change. This is true with regard to both physical risks, such as more frequent and severe storms and wildfires, and risks from rapidly changing technologies, policies and preferences that climate change is creating. The Public Service Commission’s plan can ensure that New York’s utilities are addressing those risks, and can provide a blueprint for other states and the federal government to use as well.

You can read the group’s joint comments here.

Today, EDF released a post-election poll offering the first look into how climate change is changing the landscape and politics in Florida.

Dawn Shirreffs’, EDF Florida Director observed, “Climate change is no longer a partisan issue in Florida. Voters are aware of the economic impact and a substantial percentage from both parties, and those with no party affiliation, expect their political leaders to address it head-on.”

Among the key takeaways from the survey:

• Voters would be more likely to support a Republican who supports these types of environmental policies, including more than a four-to-one margin among Republicans and a six-to-one margin among NPA/other voters.
• Two-thirds of voters overall – and about half of registered Republicans – say they are at least somewhat concerned about the impacts of climate change on the state of Florida. Voters say they are concerned by a 68 to 30 percent margin overall (38 percent very concerned).
• Three-fifths of Florida voters say climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed either now or in the future; very few voters say climate change is not happening. Forty-eight percent of voters say climate change is a severe threat that we must start addressing now.
• Governor DeSantis and Senators Rubio and Scott are all viewed favorably. Governor Ron DeSantis (51 to 31 percent). Senator Marco Rubio (53 to 29 percent), and Senator Rick Scott (46 to 35 percent). All draw net positive ratings.

(HAMBURG – 7 December 2020) Prevalent methane emissions are not isolated to distant oil and gas producing countries, they are traceable right to our doorstep: In Hamburg alone, 50 to 80% of methane emissions stem from leaky gas pipelines, according to a new study led by Utrecht University under the auspices of the U.N. Environment Programme with scientific support from the Environmental Defense Fund, a leading global nonprofit and expert on methane emissions.

Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas responsible for at least 25% of global warming. It is also the main ingredient in natural gas. Numerous studies analyzing methane leaks from gas distribution systems in cities across the United States, Canada — and now Europe — show gas pipelines can be a significant source of emissions. Gathering measured data is essential for getting a clearer picture of emissions as official inventories often underestimate the problem.

“We discovered increased methane concentrations at 145 points in the Hamburg city area, 50 of which are due to gas utility leaks,” said EDF scientist and co-author Dr. Stefan Schwietzke. “In total, the Hamburg gas network released about 286 tonnes of methane emissions into the atmosphere causing the same short-term climate damage of 1,000 cars on the road each year.”

This is a status quo, however, that can be changed as Schwietzke explains: “The specially designed vehicle-mounted mobile monitors detected methane leaks much more effectively than conventional sniffers. Gas utilities that modernize their leak maintenance practices with these vehicles can both protect the climate and improve the safety of the gas network.” Gasnetz Hamburg, the local utility, has already recognized this opportunity and is cooperating with EDF and partners on a follow-up study to test ways to implement this new monitoring technology.

Supplementing the Hamburg study results with further measurements in other cities can help draw a more complete picture of Europe’s methane emissions that come from the vast network of gas pipelines under city streets. Corresponding studies are already underway in a dozen European cities — from London to Paris to Bucharest, which will provide valuable data to fill in gaps identified by the EU Methane Strategy and increase reduction opportunities in the Union.

(December 3, 2020) A report released today finds that electric utilities in the U.S. have a legal obligation to plan for the dangers of climate change, and that such planning will be critically important for the utilities’ ability to operate in the future.

The report, Climate Risk in the Electricity Sector: Legal Obligations to Advance Climate Resilience Planning by Electric Utilities, was released today by Environmental Defense Fund and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School.

Among its findings:

• Electric utilities are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of their immense infrastructure and duty to provide safe, reliable electrical service.
• Many electric utilities are already confronting higher temperatures, changing rain patterns, and more intense storms. Those challenges will intensify in the future because of climate change.
• Effective climate resilience planning is necessary to help electric utilities prepare for the future. Failure to plan could mean more climate-induced service disruptions that threaten public health and safety and increase costs for consumers.

Climate resilience planning is also necessary for electric utilities, with relevant implications under state public utility law and under tort law.

• Under state utility law, electric utilities have a duty to ensure adequate service, which includes taking reasonable steps to minimize outages.
• Tort law establishes a duty of care that obligates electric utilities to avoid foreseeable harm when performing acts that could injure others.

The well-documented dangers of climate change mean utilities should consider climate impacts to fulfill these obligations. Utilities could be vulnerable if they fail to address the increasing likelihood of cognizable harms because of climate change. The report finds that few utilities are now doing high quality climate resilience planning, but that the tools and data needed for such planning are increasingly available.

You can read the report here, read a two-page summary here, and read our blog post about the report here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WASHINGTON- November 30, 2020) Environmental Defense Fund today launched a major effort to promote clean transportation and clean energy to boost the economy, cut harmful pollution and create healthier communities. Beginning with a six-figure digital and TV ad buy in Florida, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Ohio, this national campaign will rally support for policies that create jobs while cleaning up the largest sources of climate pollution in the United States.

“President-elect Biden and the new Congress have a historic chance to boost the economy while making our communities healthier and building a more secure future for our children. Transitioning to clean transportation and clean energy are popular across the board – and so are the jobs and clean air benefits that come with them,” said Derek Walker, Vice President, US Climate, at Environmental Defense Fund. “Trucks, buses, cars and power plants are the largest sources of climate pollution in America, and we can create millions of jobs and reduce air pollution in frontline communities if we work together on bold, common sense solutions.”

EDF is calling for 100% clean electric power by 2035, all new cars to be zero emissions by 2035, and all new trucks and buses to be zero emissions by 2040.

Transitioning to a zero-emission transportation sector will put over one million people to work, build up our manufacturing base to boost our COVID-battered economy and make American businesses more competitive in international trade — while tackling the country’s leading source of climate pollution. The amount of freight being moved by trucks is expected to increase about 25% by 2030, making it even more important that we address pollution from these vehicles.

A less polluting transportation sector will also protect our health and save thousands of lives. A cleaner transportation system, devised through an inclusive process that centers community needs, has the potential to bring significant public health and economic benefits to communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods. Those communities are more likely to be located near highways and be directly exposed to the harmful soot and smog pollution emitted by trucks, buses and cars.

We can achieve these transportation and power sector goals with a major investment and commitment by public officials and industry leaders to use every opportunity to cut pollution:

• Mobilize investments in U.S. manufacturing to create over one million jobs and develop pollution standards that will save thousands of lives – accelerating our nation’s transition to 100% zero-emission new cars by 2035 and 100% zero-emissions new trucks and buses by 2040.
• Build a national network of 500,000 charging stations —up from about 68,000 in 2019 – in urban and rural communities alike.
• Ensure communities of color and low-income neighborhoods receive the health, cost savings and job benefits of clean power and transportation anchored in community-based priorities; and create high quality, clean economy jobs in places that now rely on fossil fuel production.
• Adopt policies — including tax credits, grants, R&D investments and other incentives — that will accelerate the ability of the power sector to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035.

The initial ad campaign will run during the first week of December, timed with virtual visits to lawmakers by constituents, EDF members and our partners. Grassroots activities and additional paid media will continue nationally through next year.

The ads in English and Spanish can be seen here.