Many Americans wake up each day, see the sun shining and don’t want to think about climate change. We look at our children and plan for their future. But observing our small planet from space, we see mounting chaos. Huge chunks of ice are breaking off the Antarctic glaciers. The wildfire season in the west lasts months longer. And with imperceptibly warmer weather and more water evaporating, storms and hurricanes are intensifying, soils in the midwest are drying out, and mosquitoes and insect-borne diseases are spreading.
We now know for sure that methane biogases which are 86 times as potent a climate warmer as CO2 (on a 20-year timeframe) are our target. And as we said in Energy Vision’s year end letter, to put our climate challenge succinctly: “If we don’t win the methane sprint, the carbon dioxide marathon won’t matter.”
Energy Vision is in the business of looking for answers. We know where the methane gases are coming from and even how to meet or exceed the goal. So we must redouble our efforts to become part of the solution.
Consider: Take your bike, walk and make your next car an electric vehicle. You will be doing just what you hope and want others to do.
Tell your municipal leaders to convert their heavy duty truck and bus fleets from diesel fuel to renewable natural gas fuel. Energy Vision’s new report, The Refuse Revolution, makes clear it is the best and most affordable option for heavy fleets. It is the lowest carbon fuel there is. The fuel itself is made from methane gases that are trapped in airless tanks so they don’t escape. They can then be refined into RNG fuel, which can displace high carbon diesel fuel in these fleets. Fleet after fleet around the world is doing just this. 50,000 trucks and buses are even on our roadways, including 700 transit buses in NYC and nearly 2,000 in LA. Why not your fleet?
Tell urban leaders to start making this fuel locally by building or contracting for anaerobic digesters to process the food and green wastes local residents and businesses generate. This will cut your waste burden by a third and save money to invest in education, public health and other higher priorities. In rural settings the manures from dairy farms can be used.
If you are in a small town, don’t think you are left out. Look at what Tusten NY has done for a Community of just 1,500.
More than 50% of the methane gases in our country come from organic wastes and agriculture. So while you praise our national leaders for tackling the methane leaks from oil and gas wells, remind them of this other half.
As members and supporters of Energy Vision, we know you believe in pursuing solutions. Building anaerobic digestion infrastructure across this country not only tackles this half, it also can create more than 250,000 green jobs. Think what you can do in this new year and do it. And contact us for information that can be useful.
