There is a hidden climate change impact to America’s fracking boom: a “tidal wave” of construction (or expansion) of more than 90 oil and gas, chemical, and petroleum plants will release about as much greenhouse gas pollution as 20 large baseload coal-fired power plants, according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).
Since January 1, 2012, companies have proposed or already obtained 95 Clean Air Act permits authorizing a 91-million-ton increase in greenhouse gas emissions for the construction and operation of new compressors, pipelines and other facilities made possible by cheap shale gas.
The climate implications of the new sites are considerable: For example, nitric acid units at fertilizer plants release large amounts of nitrous oxide, which has a global warming effect more than 300 times that of carbon dioxide. Proposed new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals will release about as much greenhouse gas as would a new coal plant.
The total of 91 million additional tons of GHG pollution does not include new emissions from proposed gas-fired power plants or the multitude of smaller wells, gas processing plants, compressor stations, and flares springing up across the U.S. in shale gas rich states like North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
“The Obama Administration approaches its sixth year without having even proposed greenhouse gas standards for the natural gas, chemical or refining sectors, although a review of permits indicates that emissions are escalating rapidly from all three industries,” said EIP Director Eric Schaeffer. “Time is running out for action.”
The Federal Energy Regulatory Energy Commission has identified 21 new LNG export projects in the U.S. The U.S exported 115 million barrels of natural gas liquids and refinery liquids in 2012, almost five times the level in 2007.