Gas | Mysite

Invisible pollutants come from "natural" gas extraction.

Excess gas is openly burned ("flaring") at petroleum drill sites and refineries.

“In the US, flaring intensity ... grew by 11% in 2023 … mostly due to

(see photo of flaring)

by Tim Evanson

The US government may pay to “reduce the risk of methane leakage” via

“emissions from high-risk and leak-prone older natural gas distribution pipes.”

Why don’t gas companies use their own money to repair their own pipes?

Photo of ruptured pipe:

Reports "found much

higher rates of [invisible] leakage

from "natural" gas infrastructure

Methane invisible to the naked eye can be seen using infrared cameras.

See these two photos:

Attribution: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2020

“Besides benzene, a carcinogen, [processing plant] emissions

may include toluene, hydrogen sulfide and xylene.”

Fenceline “communities have for decades shouldered a disproportionate

burden of fossil fuel pollution and residents paid dearly with their health.”

Gas-fired electrical-power plants (photo below) continue to be built.

“The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved new long-

term supply contracts [for] ‘natural’ gas … through May 2030.”

In 2024, the E.P.A. delayed limiting "harmful air pollutants” from gas plants.

In 2025, the E.P.A. proposed repealing the pollution-limiting rule altogether.

When wells run out, they often get neglected - causing additional pollution.

The EPA estimated vacant "wells leaked ... 263,000 tons of methane” (2019).

“Unplugged oil and gas wells are … known to release benzene ... as

well as leak other hazardous chemicals like uranium and lead.”

“Companies are responsible for plugging and cleaning up wells, but many

of those companies … went bankrupt, no longer exist, or the owner died.”