Bill Text: NJ SR91 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges natural gas pipeline operators to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices to prevent methane gas leaks.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-18 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [SR91 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR91-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Senator SAMUEL D. THOMPSON
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Urges natural gas pipeline operators to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices to prevent methane gas leaks.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging natural gas pipeline operators to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices to prevent methane gas leaks.
Whereas, Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that is the principal component of natural gas, which is widely distributed to businesses and residences in this State; and
Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency recognizes methane as a potent greenhouse gas, 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide; and
Whereas, Although burning natural gas emits half as much carbon dioxide as coal, the leakage of methane into the atmosphere from its production and distribution may negate any positive impacts from the carbon dioxide reduction; and
Whereas, The United States' energy sector, including the production, transmission, distribution, and combustion of natural gas, is the largest source of methane emissions in the country; and
Whereas, In the United States, methane emissions from natural gas production, transmission, distribution, and combustion grew by 27 percent from 1990 to 2009; and
Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests there is a national methane leakage rate of 1.2 percent, which is equal to the annual emissions of 112 million cars; and
Whereas, The Office of Inspector General of the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2011 approximately $192 million of natural gas was leaked from pipelines that transport the fuel to end users, which is a cost borne by natural gas customers; and
Whereas, New Jersey's Energy Master Plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which includes methane gas emissions, to 1990 levels by 2020, followed by a further reduction of 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050; and
Whereas, There are approximately 1,497 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline and 33,919 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline in this State; and
Whereas, Aging pipeline infrastructure in the Northeast, sometimes installed prior to World War II, is now deteriorating, which contributes to the loss of methane through leaks and puts communities at risk; and
Whereas, Although a nationwide survey of methane leaks has not been undertaken, surveys of methane leaks in the cities of Boston and Washington, D.C. revealed 3,356 and 5,893 previously undetected leaks, respectively, indicating that leaks are often numerous and underreported; and
Whereas, Methane leaked from natural gas production, transmission, and distribution can be recovered through upgraded infrastructure, technology, and improved facilities management; and
Whereas, It is all together fitting and proper for this House, and in the public interest, to urge natural gas pipeline operators to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices to prevent methane gas leaks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve the efficient distribution of natural gas in this State, and to reduce the risk of methane gas-related emergencies and disasters; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges natural gas pipeline operators conducting business in this State to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices for the prevention of methane gas leaks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve the efficient transmission and distribution of natural gas in this State, and to reduce the risk of methane gas-related emergencies and disasters.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams Companies, the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Energy Corp., the Chief Executive Officer of the Columbia Pipeline Group, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kinder Morgan, Inc., the President of the Elizabethtown Gas Company, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Electric and Gas Company, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Natural Gas Company, and the Chairman of the South Jersey Gas Company.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges natural gas pipeline operators to adopt infrastructure, technology, and management practices for the prevention of methane gas leaks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve the efficient transmission and distribution of natural gas in this State, and to reduce the risk of methane gas-related emergencies and disasters.
Methane is the main component of natural gas, which is widely distributed to businesses and residences in this State. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recognizes methane as a potent greenhouse gas, 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In the United States, methane emissions from natural gas production, transmission, distribution, and combustion grew from 1990 to 2009 by 27 percent. The United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests there is a national methane leakage rate of 1.2 percent, which is equal to the annual emissions of 112 million cars. The Office of Inspector General of the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2011 approximately $192 million of natural gas was leaked from pipelines that transport the fuel to end users, which is a cost borne by natural gas customers.
New Jersey's Energy Master Plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which includes methane gas emissions, to 1990 levels by 2020, followed by a further reduction of 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. Aging pipeline infrastructure in the Northeast, sometimes installed prior to World War II, is now deteriorating, which contributes to the loss of methane through leaks and puts communities at risk. Although a nationwide survey of methane leaks has not been undertaken, surveys of methane leaks in the cities of Boston and Washington, D.C. revealed 3,356 and 5,893 leaks, respectively, indicating that leaks are often numerous and underreported. Methane leaked from natural gas production, transmission, and distribution can be recovered through upgraded infrastructure, equipment, and improved facilities management.
