Report: Georgia 10th in nation for methane gas “incidents”

ATLANTA – Methane gas – commonly referred to as “natural” gas – has been piped through our communities for heating and cooking for a century, and for just as long, has been subject to dangerous leaks. On Thursday, Environment Georgia  and Frontier Group released a new report that finds from 2010 through nearly the end of 2021, almost 2,600  gas pipeline incidents occurred in the United States that were serious enough to require reporting to the federal government. That’s the equivalent to one every 40 hours. 

The report found Georgia had the 10th most reported damaging methane leaks in the country with 59 reported “incidents” in the time period studied. Despite a track record of leaks, explosions and even deaths in Georgia the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently considering a proposal from Georgia Power as part of a Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process that would expand reliance on methane gas power plants into the 2030s.

“For as long as we have used methane gas to heat and cook in our homes, it has posed a risk both to people who heat their homes with it and those who live in neighborhoods above gas pipes,” said Jennette Gayer, Environment Georgia’s director. “House explosions and leaking pipelines aren’t isolated incidents – they’re the result of an energy system that pipes dangerous, explosive gas across the country and through our neighborhoods. We urge Georgia Power and the Georgia Public Service Commission to move away from gas fired power plants fuel in their current planning process instead of committing to even more gas powered energy.” 

Of the 59 incidents between 2010 and late 2021, 25 resulted in fires and six in an explosion. Those incidents killed two people and injured 10. Nationally, over 600 people have been injured by gas incidents. The total costs to communities from things such as property damage, emergency services and the value of intentionally and unintentionally released gas, totaled nearly $4 billion, $30 million in Georgia. These incidents also resulted in the leakage of 26.6 billion cubic feet of gas, equivalent in its effects on global warming to emissions from over 2.4 million passenger vehicles driven for a year. 

The serious pipeline incidents addressed in the report represent just a fraction of the leaks experienced in the production, transportation and burning of gas. Smaller gas leaks are rife in urban areas, while large methane leaks from oil and gas production threaten the climate. A study from 2018 found that leaks from gas lines over the previous two decades had nearly doubled the climate impact of gas. In addition, some serious gas explosions that have caused death or injury are not included in the data as they did not occur in the pipeline system.

“Leaks, fires and explosions are reminders that transporting methane gas is dangerous business,” said Tony Dutzik, associate director and senior policy analyst at Frontier Group and lead author of the report. “The incidents included in this report were caused by a wide variety of factors, from operator errors to equipment failures, and excavation damage to natural causes. Fully protecting the public requires us to reduce our dependence on gas.”

The report recommends that Georgia stop relying on methane gas for home heating and cooking as well as electricity generation. Instead, policy makers should incentivize and accelerate the transition to all-electric buildings and renewable sources of energy, which are cleaner and safer for communities. During the transition, the report recommends that gas infrastructure investments focus on fixing leaks. 

Unfortunately, the Georgia legislature made this transition more challenging in 2021 when they passed HB 150, which limits the measures local governments and other public entities can take to reduce the use of gas in Georgia’s communities.

“When rooftop solar panels can power an induction cooktop or electric heat pump, it becomes increasingly unacceptable to saddle society with the risks associated with pumping methane into our homes and throughout our communities,” said Gayer. “It’s time to leave explosive and polluting fossil fuels like methane behind and embrace a future powered by 100% renewable energy.”