Addressing Methane Emissions from Distribution Sector

A joint letter from the Attorneys General of New York, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont requests that the EPA establish methane emission standards for the distribution sector. The states argue that excluding this sector undermines the climate benefits of the Clean Power Plan and cite an EPA Inspector General's report stating that voluntary industry efforts have failed and that distribution leaks cost consumers approximately $192 million in 2011.

• The distribution sector is a significant source of methane, with leaks from this sector comprising approximately 20 percent of all methane emissions related to the production and delivery of oil and gas.
• An EPA Inspector General's report (No. 14-P-0324) found that methane leaks from distribution pipelines accounted for about half of the sector's leaks and resulted in consumer costs of roughly $192 million in 2011.
• New York and Massachusetts are identified as being particularly impacted by distribution leaks due to having the second and third highest amounts of cast and wrought iron distribution lines in the United States, respectively.
• Voluntary industry efforts to reduce methane emissions in the distribution sector have been unsuccessful, partly due to a lack of financial incentive for local distribution companies to fix leaks unless they pose a safety risk.
• The states argue that failing to minimize leaks in the distribution system could undermine the global warming benefits of the Clean Power Plan, which encourages the use of natural gas combined cycle plants for electricity generation.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2014). Addressing Methane Emissions from Distribution Sector. https://www.eesi.org/files/Final-States-letter-to-AA-McCabe-re-methane-leaks.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Addressing Methane Emissions from Distribution Sector. 2014. https://www.eesi.org/files/Final-States-letter-to-AA-McCabe-re-methane-leaks.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Addressing Methane Emissions from Distribution Sector |date=12 September 2014 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Final-States-letter-to-AA-McCabe-re-methane-leaks.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2014addressing, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Addressing Methane Emissions from Distribution Sector}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2014}, month = sep, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Final-States-letter-to-AA-McCabe-re-methane-leaks.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }