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A new NASA discovery sheds light on methane pollution in New Mexico as the state works to cut emissions. Using a satellite designed to study how dust affects the climate, NASA has found a plume of methane approximately two miles long in the Permian Basin near Carlsbad. Scientists estimate that more than 40,000 pounds of methane are emitted per hour at the Permian Basin site.
“Some of the plumes [we've] detected are among the largest ever seen—unlike anything that has ever been observed from space,” said Andrew Thorpe, a NASA research technologist leading the methane detection effort.
Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry is fighting new rules to regulate methane pollution in New Mexico. The rules target venting, flaring, and methane leaks from oil and gas production and require companies to increase monitoring to detect leaks within 1,000 feet of homes, schools, and businesses. The Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico is challenging the new rules, specifically objecting to the new leak detection provisions.
Environmental organizations are stepping in to stop the industry's appeal, claiming it would harm communities of color across the state. “These facilities leak like a sieve," said Tannis Fox, Senior Attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, adding that the pollutants directly affect approximately 35,000 New Mexicans living near wells, and 19,000 of them are people of color.
Manchin planning to tack permitting onto Defense bill
Senator Joe Manchin will try to attach his permitting reform language to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, according to comments the West Virginia senator made Wednesday. Lawmakers consider the NDAA and upcoming end-of-year omnibus spending legislation as the two most realistic options for getting the permitting reform legislation done this Congress, according to E&E News.
Democratic leaders as well as President Joe Biden are motivated to address permitting concerns this year, before a possible Republican takeover of Congress. But Republicans could decide to block the effort if they gain more seats in the upcoming election, in hopes of passing their own version of permitting reform next year.
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The plan was not to build any new infrastructure, because everything new you build has to run for 20 or 30 years to pencil out, long past the point we want to be off fossil fuels... But now all these projects are on the table again.”
