The US EPA has finalized air pollution standards related to oil and gas production, they announced in a press release April 18, 2012.

The updated standards are a result of input from the industry, public, public health groups and states. They include the first federal air rules for hydraulically fractured natural gas wells, and rules for emissions from storage tanks and other equipment.

The EPA estimates that the updated standards will save the industry $11 to $19 million annually.

Based on information collected from public comments, the updated standards establish a phase-in period to ensure that the necessary emissions-reduction technology is widely available.

Until January 2015, natural gas well operators must flare their emissions or use “green completions” technologies that are already used at many wells. In 2015, the EPA will require each new fractured well to use green completions. This will not require new federal permits.

Costs to implement the updated standards are reduced as they are achievable with cost-effective, widely-available technologies combined with processes already used by an estimated 50% of fractured natural gas wells across the US. The combination will not only reduce harmful emissions by 95%, but will allow operators to sell additional natural gas collected.

During the production of natural gas, escaping gas causes air pollution. The updated standards require that operators capture that gas, which the operators can sell to offset the cost of compliance. And, as approximately 13,000 wells are fractured or re-fractured each year, it is expected that reducing methane – the primary component of natural gas – will greatly benefit the environment.

It is the EPA’s goal that these standards will expand production of clean energy in the US while reducing negative impacts to public health.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, "By ensuring the capture of gases that were previously released to pollute our air and threaten our climate, these updated standards will not only protect our health, but also lead to more product for fuel suppliers to bring to market.

"They're an important step toward tapping future energy supplies without exposing American families and children to dangerous health threats in the air they breathe.”

For more information, check out the EPA Web site.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has passed the first Clean Air Act standard for future power plants.

The rule is a step towards creating cleaner energy and decreasing pollution levels generated by the energy sector.

The new standard is a result of a 2007 Supreme Court decision in the case Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, wherein several states sued the EPA to force the agency to begin regulating air pollution caused by carbon dioxide (CO₂) and greenhouse gases.

The Clean Air Act will only apply to future power plants, but even these can qualify for exemption. According to the EPA, the passed standard will exclude:

• New plants that have permits and plan to begin construction within the next 12 months
• Power plants renewing permits that are already a part of a Department of Energy demonstration project
• Plants that will not burn any fossil fuels
• Any power plants not located in the continental US

The Clean Air Act is a standard based on compromise with the energy sector, allowing for slower change over the long term, if at all, where necessary. The EPA already believes that most of the new natural gas combined cycle units (95% of them) will not need to adjust at all to meet the carbon pollution standard.

Further, any new power plants that plan to employ a carbon capture and storage scheme will not need to meet the pollution cap average each year, as long as the plant’s 30 year average is lower than the proposed standard’s average over the same period of time.

According to ThinkProgress.org, the carbon pollution rule sets the standard at no more than 1,000 pounds of CO₂ per megawatt hour of electricity that is produced. Average natural gas units only emit approximately 800-850 pounds, while coal plants emit over 1,700 pounds of CO₂ per MWh.

While this is well above the EPA’s standard, it does not apply to already existing plants, and new plants have a wider range of technology available to help them meet this standard.

The new Clean Air Act for carbon pollution is a landmark piece of regulation in that it is one of the first federal rules for CO₂ pollution, it will be another 30 years before it can be determined as successful.

Sunday, April 22, is the 42^nd celebration of Earth Day.

While the very early celebrations of Earth Day helped to bring about such watershed changes as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, the day has continued to be important as a way to disseminate knowledge and appreciation for the environment.

There are bound to be local celebrations and initiatives for you to participate in wherever you live, but there are also national and global initiatives.

A Billion Acts of Green® is an environmental service campaign started in 2011 by the Earth Day Network. It gives people a place to pledge a commitment they’ve made to help the earth.

Recent entries include, “I pledge to reduce my use of products with disposable packaging.” And, “I pledge to plant an herb garden on my balcony.” The goal is to reach 1 billion “Acts of Green” by the June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. There are currently over 980 million pledges.

This year’s push by the Earth Day Network is to Mobilize the Earth™. It is a campaign to “demand action from the world’s governments to embrace renewable energy, invest in energy efficiency, end dirty fuel subsidies, and make energy accessible to all.”

The goal is to assemble the necessary support, through actions like petitions and voter registration, to present their demands at the June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro.

Whether you plan to do something large or something simple, like turning the water off while you brush your teeth, I think it is important to remember all of these pledges and promises the rest of the year as well.

Oftentimes there is a big push on a celebratory day, like Earth Day, to do something “big” or “meaningful” (the same could be said of Valentine’s Day). Unfortunately, after the excitement and fervor of the crowd is gone, so is the incentive to follow through on any pledges that were signed or promises that were made.

The Earth Day Network seems to be trying to keep the spirit going, but, as always, is up to the individual to follow through on their own pledges and promises.

So please, celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, but remember to celebrate it throughout the year, too.

Legislative and social pressures are mounting for companies to decrease their carbon footprints and apply more “green” workplace policies.

The goal of going “green” is to reduce carbon footprints at minimal cost and the spectrum of solutions ranges from implementing a simple recycling program to installing solar panels in the office space. 

One possible solution is an employee telework initiative—having employees work remotely two to three days a week.

According to the Telework Research Network, half-time telework can accomplish the following:

• Reduce Gulf Oil imports by 45%.
• Save 281 million barrels of oil worth $22 billion in oil imports.
• Reduce carbon emissions by over 51 million metric tons a year (the equivalent of taking all of New York’s commuters off the road!)
• Reduce office energy consumption, roadway repairs, urban heating, office construction, business travel, and paper usage.
• Reduce road wear and tear (and associated repair costs) by 112 billion miles a year.

• 70% of employees report they would see their companies in a more favorable light if they helped them reduce their carbon emissions.
• 24% of employees say they’d take a pay cut of up to 10% to help the environment.

Sun Microsystems reported that 19,000 U.S. employees (approximately 56% of their workforce) participated in their Open Work Program and avoided producing 52,000 tons of CO₂-equivalents emissions in 2008 by driving less often to and from work.

The AT&T telework program enabled the employees who participated to avoid 175 million commute miles per year, with annual fuel savings of approximately 8 million gallons and a net reduction of 76,273 metric tons of CO₂-equivalents emissions per year.

A telework initiative also can be a way to cheaply implement some Clean Air Act requirements, as well as ADA accommodations for disabled employees.

How can you, as an employer, simply and easily initiate a telework program for your employees? There are many free resources available:

• The Telework Research Network has a Telework Savings Calculator so companies can quantify the potential cost savings
• ValleyMetro – the public transportation provider for the Phoenix metro area – has multiple tools available, such as a Cost-Benefit Analysis, sample telework plans and policies, and a free webinar. 
• The State of Arizona, long a proponent of telework policies, also has free online training available.