We Have a Gas Problem

A new peer-reviewed study in the journal Science gives us a clearer picture of the climate impact of natural gas. According to researchers, methane leakage across oil and gas operations in the U.S. are 60 percent higher than government estimates. Put another way: the methane leakage from oil and gas has the same warming effect over a 20-year time period as all America’s coal capacity in 2015. Natural gas has been vital to lowering power-sector carbon emissions. Are methane leaks reversing that progress? We'll provide some context. Then, we'll talk about how GE and Siemens are grappling with dramatic changes in demand for gas turbines. Both companies are de-emphasizing their gas businesses, while accelerating investments in renewables and efficiency. How will these power giants evolve? This podcast is brought to you by Sense. Sense installs in your home's electrical panel and provides insight into your energy use and home activity through iOS, Android and web apps. Find out more. Recommended reading:Journal Science: Assessment of Methane Emissions From the U.S. Oil and Gas Supply ChainNew York Times: The Natural Gas Industry Has a Leak ProblemJesse Jenkins Twitter analysis on the studyRichard Meyer Twitter analysis on the studyGTM: The ‘New’ New General Electric: Renewables Are In, Distributed Gas Generators Are OutSubscribe to The Energy Gang podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher or wherever you find your audio content. And while you're there, subscribe to our other podcasts, The Interchange and Political Climate.