Colorado approves US first for emissions reductions

New rules for the limiting of air pollution within the state of Colorado have now been approved. Health and environment officials approved the rules that aim to see emissions throughout the state reduced, which includes the first plan in the US for detecting and cutting down on methane emissions.

It is hoped that the new limits will help to cut down on air pollution created by the oil and gas industry within the state. Measures will now be taken to further reduce the release of methane gas during the extraction, storage and transportation of natural shale gas. These will be implemented through a partnership involving Noble Energy, Anadarko Petroleum, Encana Corp and the Environmental Defence Fund.

Operators will now be required to use a range of technologies, including infrared cameras, in order to check for leaks throughout the production and storage of natural gas. This could help to drastically improve air quality, as methane is over 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide in terms of climate change.

The oil and gas industry creates a large amount of emissions, which contributes to poor air quality and increasingly smoggy conditions; often resulting in air pollutants exceeding federal limits. These new limits will help to improve air throughout the state, helping to reduce the health impact on residents.

Dr Larry Wolk, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's executive director and chief medical officer, said: “We are pleased the Air Quality Control Commission adopted these important measures. Protecting Colorado’s public and environment is one of our greatest responsibilities, and we must ensure oil and gas development continues to adhere to the most protective standards. We’re pleased that a group of environmental and industry leaders worked with our administration to help forge these landmark rules.” 

The new limits will alter the way in which the oil and gas industry operates within the state and could create change in other areas of the US, helping the nation to drastically reduce emissions and cut its impact on climate change.