Complete list of press releases

(Baton Rouge) At today’s monthly board meeting of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), sediment diversions lead Brad Barth announced that the agency will expand the study for the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion from 35,000 to 75,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Scientists and engineers hired to analyze the project have concluded that expanding the study will capture more sediment and fresh water from the Mississippi River, thereby maximizing land-building more cost effectively. The Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion, which will be located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, is currently in the engineering and design phase. The project will convey fresh water and sediment into nearby deteriorating marshes to sustain and build land over time.  

Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local conservation organizations committed to coastal Louisiana restoration including Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision by CPRA to increase the scale of study of the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion will better position the state to ultimately build more coastal wetlands that will buffer our communities from storm surge and rising seas – exactly what Louisiana needs.

“This decision also demonstrates that CPRA is being guided by the best science and modeling to confront the on-the-ground realities of our disappearing coast. Our state must continue to be flexible and adapt its projects to reflect the best science available, so that we can hold onto as much of our coastal land as possible.

“The severity and urgency of our land loss crisis requires that we use all available assets, particularly the sediment and fresh water of our rivers, to push back against flooding from hurricanes and sea level rise. Capturing more sediment from these rivers to restore our wetlands rather than losing this sediment to the Gulf of Mexico is not only a smart strategy, but it is also absolutely necessary if we’re to have a sustainable future in our region.

“As a part of that strategy, efforts currently underway with Louisiana Sea Grant, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and CPRA to help fishing industries adapt to our rapidly-changing coast should proceed in earnest. These efforts will help ensure the needs of people working in these critical industries can be balanced with our region’s need to hold onto coastal wetlands to protect homes, businesses and critical fish and wildlife habitat.”

NEWS RELEASE (Washington, D.C. – January 16, 2019) In his confirmation hearing, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler today laid out the vision of a lobbyist, not a leader—a vision that would endanger the health of American children and families. Before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Wheeler persistently provided narrow and misleading answers to important questions about the future of the agency he wants to lead.

“Andrew Wheeler made clear he’s committed to policies that will lead to more pollution, more asthma attacks and more damage from climate change,” said Elizabeth Gore, EDF’s Senior Vice President for Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund.

From his opening words through a series of evasive answers, Wheeler showed that, if confirmed, he would continue his focus on dismantling environmental safeguards, and would continue to tilt his agenda toward polluters. He also made statements about his priorities that contradict his record as Acting Administrator. Time after time, Wheeler ducked chances to show leadership, and showed that he is willing to say one thing while doing another:

• Wheeler began his bid to lead EPA by not even uttering the words “climate change” in his opening statement.
• He claimed to be reducing pollution, but has been busily rolling back limits that protect against the largest sources of climate pollution including cars, power plants, and oil and gas production — at the same that he undermines safeguards against toxic and smog-forming air pollution.
• He claimed his Affordable Clean Energy proposal will reduce CO₂ by roughly the same amount as the Clean Power Plan, but his own agency’s analysis shows that his rollbacks would significantly increase carbon pollution.
• He promised to “vigorously enforce” enforcement laws, but a new study shows that new criminal case referrals from EPA dropped to their lowest level in more than three decades. EPA enforcement is dropping so much that the Government Accounting Office is investigating.
• He professed concern about furloughed employees, but he has pressed for large cuts in EPA staffing.

“American families need a leader who will prioritize their health, not the needs of polluters,” said Gore. “The Senate needs to reject Andrew Wheeler’s nomination.”

(NEW YORK, NY) Gov. Andrew Cuomo today delivered his 2019 State of the State address, including the need for a comprehensive congestion pricing plan. By raising more than $1 billion every year, congestion pricing will allow New York to invest in a cleaner, more modern transit system that gets city streets moving again. Additionally, since transportation makes up almost a third of New York City’s greenhouse gas pollution, congestion pricing will help put the city and state on a trajectory to meet their ambitious climate goals.

“Congestion pricing will help address two of New York’s most urgent challenges: climate change and the city’s crumbling transit system. Governor Cuomo can take a bite out of both crises with congestion pricing, which he smartly put front and center in today’s State of the State. Now it‘s time for Albany to take action once and for all.”

• Andy Darrell, New York Regional Director, Environmental Defense Fund

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced a new partnership to develop and deploy initiatives that support Tyson’s sustainability strategy and help meet increasing consumer demand for more sustainably grown food.

The partnership’s first project focuses on land stewardship and aims to pilot and scale agriculture practices on 500,000 acres of corn that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), improve water quality and maximize farmer profitability. This effort will also help Tyson meet its land stewardship goal of working with farmers to improve environmental practices across two million acres of corn production by 2020.

The pilot will use cloud-based agricultural technologies from MyFarms and Farmers Business Network (FBN), both of which collect information on agricultural production practices while protecting data privacy. Insights from the analysis of that data will inform sustainability practices at the field level. Only FBN members who explicitly opt in to the Land Stewardship program, and consent to the terms, conditions, and data-sharing policies, will be included in this pilot program.

“If the largest U.S. food company can prove the viability of farming practices that are good for the planet and for profits, it would be a game changer,” noted Jenny Ahlen, director of the EDF+Business supply chain program. “We’re using scientific analysis to measure the benefits of sustainable farming practices, help companies like Tyson evaluate the impact of their sustainability initiatives, and inspire transparency across the supply chain.”

MyFarms and FBN will work to enroll farmers in the initial sustainable agriculture project. FBN will be providing this opportunity to its 7,600 members, who span nearly 30 million acres, and are looking for new ways to continue their commitment to sustainable agriculture. Farmers enrolled in MyFarms will also have the opportunity to pilot a new scientific method, based on extensive scientific research compiled by EDF, for calculating nitrogen loss. Excessive nitrogen application is a primary water quality concern, contributes to agricultural GHG emissions, and is a source of lost income for farmers. 

“Developing a sustainable food system is important to our business and the planet,” said Justin Whitmore, executive vice president of continuous improvement and chief sustainability officer, Tyson Foods. “Joining forces with EDF enables us to bring together the best of our joint expertise in supply chains and sustainable agriculture and deliver value to growers, businesses and the environment.”

Other features of the partnership include:

• Analyzing sustainability data on farmland, as part of Tyson’s land stewardship commitment.
• Publicly communicate progress and best practices that surface from pilot projects.

“Farmers are the most important stewards of the land, and it’s vital they have tools and markets to farm sustainably and be profitable doing so,” said Charles Baron, co-founder of Farmers Business Network. “FBN is committed to finding new opportunities for crop farmers to develop markets for sustainable practices.”

“MyFarms believes that farmers have both the desire and the opportunity to learn from one another,” said Chris Fennig, managing director of MyFarms. “We also recognize the value of their long-term business relationships, so we’ve built a set of cloud-based tools that enable advisors to better inform their farmer clients about opportunities to improve economic and environmental outcomes at the farm gate.”

(Denver, Colo.) Today the Colorado Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling that required the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to condition regulatory action on findings that such action would not have negative cumulative impacts on public health and the environment. 

“While this reversal is disappointing, it should not be interpreted to mean protection of public health and the environment must take a backseat to the economic interests of oil and gas companies and mineral owners. The court clearly ruled that the COGCC has a duty to prevent and mitigate adverse environmental impacts in order to protect public health, safety and welfare.

“The Commission must continue to use its discretion to prioritize the protection of Coloradans’ health and environment from the harmful impacts of oil and gas development in its regulatory decisions. As the statute requires, the Commission’s policies must be ‘consistent with the protection of public health, safety and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources.’

“EDF is grateful to the engaged and committed young people who initiated this legal action and so eloquently made their case to the Commission and to the courts. Addressing climate change is a generational challenge, and we commend these Coloradans for their bravery in embracing that challenge.”

• Dan Grossman, National Director of State Programs, Energy

(BOSTON - January 14, 2019) Conservation Law Foundation and Environmental Defense Fund have challenged NOAA Fisheries, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the New England Fishery Management Council to properly manage the region’s ailing groundfish stocks. In a letter sent to the leaders of these agencies, CLF and EDF call for improvements to monitoring practices so that managers can make informed decisions.

“Too many of New England’s fisheries are still in crisis,” said Peter Shelley, senior counsel at Conservation Law Foundation. “Without knowing how many fish are actually being caught and being discarded at sea without being reported, the agencies are managing the fishery in the dark. This irresponsible management isn’t tolerated anywhere else in the country, and it’s unacceptable in New England as well.”

Only 15 percent of all fishing trips are required to be monitored in New England, and recent reports from NOAA Fisheries have shown that the current system cannot even achieve that requirement. CLF and EDF are calling for a process already underway in the New England Fishery Management Council, called Amendment 23, to be expedited so that full accountability is in place for the fishery by the start of the 2020 fishing season. Additional resources and increased leadership oversight are critical to improving the situation, especially in light of the current partial government shutdown, which will create extra workloads for agency personnel upon their return to work.

“Time is running out for the New England groundfish fishery and the people who rely on it,” said Johanna Thomas, New England Director, Environmental Defense Fund. “We can turn this fishery around with full accountability and a cost-effective monitoring program. The tools, technology and policy exist to solve this problem, but our fisheries leaders must act now.”

Decades of poor management and a lack of good data have led iconic New England fish like Atlantic cod to be severely overfished to the point of commercial collapse. While cod and other species have not been fished above their catch limits according to official reports, federal and state fisheries officials concede that thousands of pounds of cod are being thrown away by some boats on every trip without being reported. This past spring, the government reported an unprecedented number of complaints by fishermen of cod illegally discarded on fishing trips and not being recorded by federal fishery observers onboard.

For the management system to work, it is necessary for regulators to have access to good science; good science requires that scientists know exactly how many fish are landed (caught and brought to shore) and how many are discarded (caught but thrown back overboard, dead or mortally wounded). Without accurate and reliable monitoring, it is impossible to know when the catch limits for a stock have actually been reached so that a fishery can be closed for the population to recover.

The organizations are calling on fishery managers and regulators to do what is required of them by law: to accurately monitor the fishery and ensure it complies with catch limits.

“Wade Crowfoot is a strong leader and problem solver.  His depth of experience working in government and for conservation organizations make him uniquely qualified to take on California’s growing set of natural resource challenges, including catastrophic fires, drought, floods and loss of our natural heritage.

“As the climate warms and California’s population continues to grow, we will need renewed energy and creativity to steward California’s forests, water resources, state parks, and wildlife. Wade has demonstrated that drive and innovative spirit throughout his career.

“We stand ready to partner with Governor Newsom and Secretary Crowfoot in tackling some of the state’s most consequential challenges.”

• David Festa, Senior Vice President, Environmental Defense Fund

(DENVER, COLO – Jan. 10, 2019) – Environmental Defense Fund joined several conservation and sportsmen’s groups today in praising Gov. Jared Polis’ commitment to supporting Colorado’s Water Plan and ensuring the state’s water security in his first state of the state address.

During the address, Polis committed to providing bipartisan, sustainable funding for Colorado’s Water Plan. Polis commended his predecessor Gov. John Hickenlooper’s role in developing the Water Plan, and pledged that his administration would do its part to improve and implement that plan.

Colorado’s Water Plan forecasts a statewide deficit between water supply and demand by 2050. The Colorado River Basin is in its 19th year of drought, with major shortages predicted to start as early as this year.

“Governor Polis’ remarks are a recognition not only of the importance of water to Colorado families, but of the water challenges that Colorado could face and how imperative it is that Colorado secures its water future.

“It will take sustained action and investment to turn these ideas into reality, and we look forward to working with the governor and the state legislature to realize them.”

• Brian Jackson, Associate Director, Stakeholder Projects, Environmental Defense Fund

(NEW YORK) Environmental Defense Fund announced today that it has signed contracts with two leading aerospace companies that will compete for the opportunity to build EDF’s MethaneSAT. Over the next several months, EDF will work with Ball Aerospace and SSL, a Maxar Technologies company, to refine designs and program plans to meet the performance, cost and scheduling requirements of the MethaneSAT project. EDF will then choose one mission partner to build the satellite, including the methane-measuring instrument at the heart of the unique mission.

The decision to move forward with Ball and SSL comes after discussions with nearly two dozen prospective providers. Each of the selected firms offers unique capabilities. The contracts, totaling $1.5 million, are a key milestone for MethaneSAT, which will quantify and map heat-trapping methane emissions from oil and gas facilities and other man-made sources around the globe. Announced last April, MethaneSAT is scheduled to launch in 2021.

“We’ve had the opportunity to work with the some of the most capable companies in the space industry,” said Tom Ingersoll, project director for MethaneSAT and himself a satellite entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience. “Ball and SSL are the two we feel are best positioned to make this challenging mission a success.”

Competitive Challenge

To meet demanding performance requirements, MethaneSAT is using the latest scientific and technological innovations in sensor design, spectroscopy, data retrieval algorithms and flux inversions, a state-of-the-art modeling technique to distinguish emissions from ambient methane and trace them back to their source. Choosing the right vendor to build it is mission-critical.

Ball Aerospace creates innovative space solutions, enables more accurate weather forecasts, drives insightful observations of our planet and delivers actionable data and intelligence for government and commercial customers. The data captured through Ball-built instruments and satellites facilitates an enhanced scientific understanding of major sustainability challenges, and has allowed governments, industry and other stakeholders to effectively address these challenges over the past 60 years.

SSL, a Maxar Technologies company, provides satellites and spacecraft systems that connect, protect and inform the world. A Silicon Valley innovator for more than 60 years, their product line includes satellites for video broadcast, communications, Earth observation and remote sensing as well as spacecraft systems and robotics for exploration. SSL leverages Maxar’s broad space systems expertise to provide complete solutions and will engage the expertise of sister company DigitalGlobe in developing MethaneSAT.

The competing proposals will be evaluated and the winning vendor chosen by EDF experts working together with seasoned advisors. These include Dr. Dan McCleese, former Chief Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who leads the project’s Science Advisory Group, and Joe Rothenberg, former Director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Director of Engineering and Operations for Google’s Terra Bella, who heads up the Technical Advisory Group.

The principal scientific investigator on MethaneSAT is Dr. Steven C. Wofsy, Abbott Lawrence Rotch Professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Science at Harvard University. He and EDF worked with a team from Harvard and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to establish core mission requirements, design selections and launch schedule.

Along with Ingersoll, the in-house MethaneSAT team includes EDF Chief Scientist Dr. Steven Hamburg, and Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President of the EDF energy program, and remote sensing expert Dr. Ritesh Gautam.

EDF brings a deep understanding to the challenges of quantifying methane emissions and mapping those emissions through its role as organizer of an unprecedented series of ground-based and airborne studies examining emissions across the U.S. oil and gas supply chain that involved more than 140 researchers from 40 institutions in cooperation with 50 oil and gas companies.

Crucial Climate Challenge

The October 2018 report by International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that our climate is changing even faster than anticipated, requiring dramatic action now to prevent the most catastrophic effects. Human-made methane emissions are responsible for more than a quarter of the warming we experience today, and are a crucial part of the solution; reducing them is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to slow the warming rate while we continue to decarbonize the economy.

“MethaneSAT is the single most audacious effort we’ve ever undertaken at EDF, in keeping with the scale and scope of this crucial opportunity,” said Brownstein “Significant reductions in oil and gas methane emissions now can materially lower the rate of global temperature rise in our lifetime. MethaneSAT will give us the data we need to seize this moment.”Data from MethaneSAT will be available at no cost, helping both companies and countries identify emission sources, see opportunities to reduce them, and track those reductions over time. EDF’s goal is to reduce global oil and gas methane emissions 45 percent by 2025. This would deliver the same 20-year benefit to the climate as closing 1,300 coal-fired power plants — one-third of all the coal plants in the world.

(Washington, D.C. – January 9, 2019) President Donald Trump just sent the Senate his nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In response, Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp released the following statement:

“We evaluate executive appointments with the presumption that every President has a right to name his team unless a nominee would threaten the health and safety of the American people. Unfortunately, Andrew Wheeler’s record puts him in that category.

“Mr. Wheeler’s leadership at EPA would be a continuation of the dangerous approach forged by his predecessor, Scott Pruitt, the first EPA Administrator whose nomination EDF ever opposed. Andrew Wheeler becomes the second. For EDF, such opposition is an extraordinary step. In Mr. Wheeler’s case, as in Mr. Pruitt’s, it is warranted. Our country needs an EPA Administrator guided by science, who respects our environmental laws and values public health.

“As Deputy Administrator since April 2018 and Acting Administrator since July 2018, Mr. Wheeler ignored sound science and attacked the foundation of long-standing environmental protections. In almost seven months as Acting Administrator, he has led efforts to weaken or eliminate meaningful limits on the largest sources of climate pollution, including smokestacks, tailpipes, and oil and gas facilities — efforts that would yield billions of tons of additional climate pollution.

“Under his leadership, EPA has also attacked Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants, which protect children and save thousands of lives every year, according to EPA’s own estimate. Mr. Wheeler has undermined the scientific foundation of important air quality initiatives, has denied states that asked for relief from upwind coal-plant pollution, and is systematically weakening the bipartisan law that protects Americans from toxic chemicals.

“In short, Mr. Wheeler fully embraces President Trump’s anti-environmental agenda. His policies will lead to dirtier air and water and unchecked climate pollution. A majority of Americans of both parties support the vital safeguards that keep our air and water clean. We at EDF will continue working to protect America’s environmental protections because they improve all our lives. To do so, we must oppose Mr. Wheeler’s nomination.”

(Harrisburg, PA – January 8, 2019) Pennsylvania is continuing to step up as a climate leader with an announcement today to set the first-ever statewide goal to slash climate pollution.

Under the executive order signed by Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania will work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050, compared to 2005 levels.

“By setting these goals, Governor Tom Wolf is continuing to show he is ready to lead on climate even as the federal government sits on the sidelines,” said Mandy Warner, Senior Manager of Climate and Air Policy for Environmental Defense Fund. “Moving forward, developing enforceable climate pollution limits, for both carbon and methane, will be critical to ensure that Pennsylvania achieves these goals.”

The announcement comes at a time when Pennsylvania is feeling more harmful impacts from our changing climate, and comes on the same day it was reported that U.S. carbon emissions increased in 2018.

Pennsylvania is the third worst in the nation overall for climate pollution.

Last month, Pennsylvania announced it was joining the Transportation Climate Initiative, which will develop a policy to reduce climate pollution from the transportation sector in nine states and the District of Columbia. The goal is to put a firm limit on climate pollution that will decline over time.

Significant opportunities remain for pollution reductions from the power sector in Pennsylvania, which remains the only state from Maine to Virginia without a plan to cut greenhouse gases from that sector.

(WASHINGTON) The government shutdown drags into its 18^th day and it is American communities that are at great risk, compounding the hardships faced by the hundreds of thousands of American workers who are not receiving paychecks. The arguments over the shutdown have glossed over the very real and immediate impacts on public health and the environment caused by closures to agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

“The debate surrounding the government shutdown has centered largely on the border wall, yet little has been made of the dangers posed right now to American families by the shuttering of agencies such as EPA. With nearly 95% of its 14,000-person workforce off the job, communities across the country are forced to stand by while water and soil go untested, air is fouled, science is suspended, and looming threats from climate change grow more perilous.

“From a North Carolina river that needs testing for a cancerous pollutant, to Superfund sites in Illinois, Missouri and Massachusetts suffering cleanup delays, to suspensions in hurricane prediction, American families’ health and safety have been irresponsibly put at risk and ignored.

“The shutdown serves as another reminder of the vital, underappreciated role that EPA and public health and environmental agencies play in keeping Americans out of harm’s way. An extended shutdown only increases the risks to the American people.

“President Trump is fond of saying he wants clean air and clean water. However, his willing, prolonged closure of the government—coupled with new research indicating US greenhouse gas emissions rose considerably in 2018—shows a president with little genuine regard for the present and future well-being of American families and communities.

“EDF again calls for an immediate reopening of the government so that public officials can provide critical safeguards and Americans can breathe easier knowing that they are properly protected.”

• Elgie Holstein, Senior Director for Strategic Planning

The Environmental Protection Agency has sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a draft final rule that significantly scales back the ban it proposed two years ago on deadly paint strippers containing methylene chloride. The retreat signals a major concession to industry and allied interests. While the exact content of the rule EPA sent to OMB is not yet known, EPA appears to have limited the ban to consumer uses only.  Yet workers constitute the great majority of reported deaths from the use of these products.

Methylene chloride is highly neurotoxic, and acutely lethal. There have been over 50 reported deaths from acute exposure to the chemical in paint strippers – though many more likely have gone unreported.

“For the families around the country who have lost loved ones to methylene chloride exposure, this is at best a half-step forward in getting these deadly paint strippers off the market. Rather than waiting for EPA to act, most major retailers have already removed or pledged to remove these products from their shelves.  But that doesn’t protect most workers, and now it looks like EPA won’t either.” said Lindsay McCormick, Project Manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

“Instead, EPA will relegate any limits on commercial uses to a separate, nebulous and lengthy process it is only just starting, which will defer for years or even deny protection to those most at-risk: workers,” McCormick added. “EDF previously identified the key elements needed to make EPA’s final action health-protective, and we cautioned EPA to avoid taking actions short of the ban originally proposed two years ago. It appears that once again EPA has prioritized narrow commercial interests over strong science and health protection.”

The record EPA assembled two years ago to support the need for a ban on most commercial as well as consumer uses is clear: Allowing such products to stay on the market based on reliance on increased labeling, protective equipment, or training requirements simply will not protect the public’s or workers’ health.

By sending to OMB only an “advanced notice of proposed rulemaking” to address commercial uses – which will likely merely invite input on what a training and certification program should look like – EPA is deferring for years needed action to protect workers.

For more details on methylene chloride: https://www.edf.org/health/dcm-methylene-chloride

EPA’s methylene chloride half-measure leaves a number of unanswered questions. See them here.

 (PITTSBURGH, PA – January 8, 2019) Peoples Gas is committing to cut methane emissions from its Pittsburgh distribution system by 50 percent using advanced leak detection methods developed in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and Google Earth Outreach to map and measure leaks coming from underground pipes. Peoples will use the data to prioritize upgrades to achieve the greatest climate benefits as quickly as possible. The pledge is the first of its kind by a U.S. utility.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years it is in the atmosphere. It is also the main ingredient in natural gas. Reducing methane leaks has been a priority for County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and aligns with Gov. Tom Wolf’s efforts to ensure that Pennsylvania’s oil and gas sector is safer, cleaner and more competitive.

Concrete, meaningful reductions in methane emissions will help the Steel City achieve the ambitious climate action goals set by Mayor William Peduto in its Climate Action Plan 3.0, adopted in May 2018.

“Cities, states and forward thinking companies are leading the fight against global warming. Scientists tell us we urgently need to accelerate our actions to prevent catastrophic changes in our climate,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “Peoples Gas, the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania’s embrace of new technologies and smarter strategies to tackle the climate challenge is a bold example for others to follow.”

Under a new commitment announced today, Peoples and EDF will use highly sensitive leak detection sensors and advanced data analytics developed in partnership with Google and scientists at Colorado State University (CSU) that make it possible to quantify leaks from aging underground pipes quickly and cost-effectively. About 46 percent of the pipes operated by Peoples are more than 50 years old.

“This new commitment is supportive of our multibillion-dollar pipeline modernization and methane mitigation program,” said Peoples CEO Morgan O’Brien. “As a company and as a partner to the city of Pittsburgh, we are committed to climate action. We embrace cutting edge technology and are creating a culture that prioritizes and takes ownership of our role in making this region better for generations to come.”

Advanced leak detection enhances safety benefits, climate action

Leaks will be mapped throughout 2019 using a laser-based methane analyzer installed on a Peoples survey vehicle. With that information, scientists at CSU will use a peer-reviewed algorithm to quantify the volume of methane emissions from each leak so that Peoples can focus their system upgrades on the largest leaks and those where investment brings the greatest safety and environmental benefit.

“Pennsylvania is committed to doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we applaud Peoples Gas, Environmental Defense Fund and the city of Pittsburgh for their leadership in helping achieve our goals,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “This collaboration is a triple win, showing that stakeholders can come together to identify cost-effective solutions to reduce emissions, improve safety and save money.” 

Advanced leak detection strategies like those pioneered in Pittsburgh via the Peoples-EDF collaboration are increasingly being adopted by leading utilities around the country to find and fix methane leaks. This approach improves climate benefits, enhances system safety and saves ratepayers money.

“The energy industry and the development of energy is an important part of this region’s growth, but it has to be done in a responsible way so that public health and the environment are protected,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “I applaud today’s announcement by Peoples and EDF, and hope this is the first of many steps being taken by the energy industry to keep our region at the forefront of energy production in a responsible and thoughtful way.”

EDF’s engagement with Peoples is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the America’s Pledge initiative. Acting on the 10 high-impact opportunity areas identified in its America’s Pledge report, including methane leak detection and repair, Bloomberg Philanthropies is investing in pilot efforts such as EDF’s work in Pittsburgh, along with programs to curb super-polluting gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and initiatives to spur the market for electric vehicles.

“Stopping methane leaks is a great example of how steps that fight climate change also strengthen the economy and save consumers money,” said Michael R. Bloomberg UN Special envoy for climate action. “Through America’s Pledge, cities and businesses are keeping our country moving forward on climate change even while Washington tries to drag us backwards, and Pittsburgh is helping to lead the way.”

Next steps in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are among leading U.S. cities to pledge support for climate action in the wake of the federal government’s decision to step away from the Paris Climate Accord. Gov. Wolf is similarly taking a lead role among major gas producing states, establishing new controls to reduce emissions of methane from new and modified natural gas infrastructure as well as recently proposing rules to address emissions and leaks of methane from the thousands of existing sources of natural gas wells, pipelines and infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

“Methane leaks not only waste a valuable natural resource, they greatly exacerbate climate change,” said Mayor Peduto. “With new tools available to address this climate challenge head-on, it is our responsibility to act to protect our citizens and communities. Today, we see Peoples Gas leading the way, and for that the people of Pittsburgh should cheer. It is our hope that the initiative shown by Peoples will be echoed across our state and beyond.”

Other advocates echoed the sentiment.

“The partnership between Peoples and EDF is another critical step in ensuring that Pennsylvania continues on the path of reducing methane emissions and moving toward our goals for deep decarbonization,” said Davitt Woodwell, president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. 

“Governor Newsom’s leadership will be put to the test on a number of key issues, none as urgent as safeguarding California from the increasingly dangerous impacts of climate change.

“Californians live with year-round catastrophic wildfires that threaten lives and communities. Multi-year droughts are stressing water supplies. Rising sea levels and flooding threaten to ravage our coastal communities. It is imperative that Governor Newsom address these threats with solutions that make California more resilient to climate change.

“Fortunately, California has history of bold action on climate that gives the Newsom Administration momentum as it approaches major policy decisions for managing wildfire risk, protecting water supplies, reducing greenhouses gases, and strengthening urban and rural infrastructure to protect the state’s most vulnerable citizens against extreme weather.

“At the same time, California has been an unparalleled leader on fighting climate change with innovative policies, from the state’s groundbreaking cap-and-trade program to visionary commitments on clean cars and clean energy. Newsom’s California must remain a global climate pacesetter, as leaders around the world are watching. 

“We stand ready to partner with Governor Newsom and his administration in tackling some of the state’s most consequential challenges. The new governor has been a long-time champion on the issues that matter most to Californians. We are counting on him and his administration to bring relentless energy and bold leadership to the fight against climate change and for climate resilience.”

• David Festa, Senior Vice President, Environmental Defense Fund