Another point of view: Natural gas is not as clean as it is believed

The Environmental Defense Fund Methane Emissions Study, published in a Washington Post article published June 22 ("The study says that methane leaks offset the benefits of natural gas", page A3), should be a warning to Maine homeowners, business people and municipal officials who are planning to heat their buildings or their communities

Scientists have warned us for years that the city 's buildings and communities are in danger. Environmental Protection Agency may have underestimated the amount of methane lost in the atmosphere during drilling. for gas and oil, especially at sites where hydraulic fracturing (hydraulic fracturing) is used. (Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas.) Now, we have a substantial and rigorous study, published in the journal Science, that accredit these warnings and clearly show that the role of natural gas and propane in reducing Natural gas and propane combustion emissions are not associated with ground-based pollution, but its contribution to global warming, via methane emissions in drilling and storage, strongly suggests that we should consider alternative ways to heat our homes and businesses. One of these pumps is the air heat pump

. This type of device can easily be installed in most buildings, is as efficient as natural gas or propane and has much less impact on our climate. In Maine, more than half of the electricity needed to run a heat pump comes from renewable sources of energy. If an owner or company installs solar panels with heat pumps, the benefits are even greater.

The Environmental Defense Fund study reminds us that Maine's two new policies need to move away from fossil fuel, and a governor who will not only support such policies, but will initiate them, providing leadership that has been lacking for eight years.

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