Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Opinion: Don’t Fall for Fossil Fuel Propaganda
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 4 years ago on
December 19, 2020

Share

The consequences of climate change do not impact all Californians equally, and here in the San Joaquin Valley, community members and agricultural workers are on the frontlines of the air pollution, water scarcity and increased heat that are inextricably tied to climate change.

By Blanca Escobedo

Special to CalMatters

Our health, well-being and future prosperity depend on enacting meaningful solutions to accelerate the transition off of polluting fuels.

That’s why it’s so disheartening when the lawmakers we’ve elected to represent us push false climate solutions rather than championing the bold action we so desperately need. California legislators have pushed a misleading picture of the climate benefits of so-called “renewable natural gas” while ignoring the air quality and water impacts that will further burden San Joaquin Valley communities.

Numerous studies show that renewable natural gas – the fossil fuel industry term for biogas produced from organic material like crops or animal manure – is limited, expensive, environmentally risky and a potential environmental justice disaster. It is not the silver bullet against climate change that fossil fuel companies and their backers describe.

In fact, documents from fossil fuel companies show that renewable natural gas is at the center of a communications campaign aimed at stalling the transition to clean energy. By claiming that mixing a small amount of renewable natural gas into the existing gas system can cancel out climate pollution from gas, fossil fuel executives intend to stall the transition to truly clean and green energy.

By ramping up the production of renewable natural gas for use in buildings and in cars and trucks, California will expand unsustainable agricultural practices that continually pollute nearby communities.

The San Joaquin Valley won’t benefit from larger dairies – we will, however, benefit from sustainable agricultural practices that not only produce food for local communities, but also protect our air and groundwater.

On Top of the Climate and Environmental Risk, There Are Also Economic Risks

If the renewable natural gas supply is expanded, we also risk expanding and creating new sources of methane emissions. Renewable natural gas facilities only capture and convert a portion of the methane produced from manure on factory farms into gas. Meanwhile, more cows mean more methane from enteric emissions, more air pollution and more groundwater pollution.

On top of the climate and environmental risk, there are also economic risks.

In reality, the potential for profit comes out of the pockets of fellow Californians. Renewable natural gas is four to 17 times more expensive to generate than fossil gas. Without corporate welfare, in the form of taxpayer subsidies, the renewable natural gas machine runs dry.

Despite the clear and unacceptable risks that the expansion of unsustainable renewable natural gas projects pose to our communities, policymakers continue to greenlight additional subsidies to the industry. The California Public Utilities Commission is poised to approve an additional $40 million in subsidies to expand the polluting pipelines that connect dairy projects to the natural gas pipeline system.

This funding allocation would be particularly egregious given that the money is slated to come from the climate credit account. In other words, these crucial funds are designed to fund bill credits for rate-payers to offset the transitional cost to climate change policies – cash that so many Californians need in this economic crisis. Or they could be used to fund programs that actually help ratepayers by addressing climate change while cleaning up the air.

The California Public Utilities Commission may also approve a policy that would allow gas companies to market renewable natural gas as clean and sustainable even as those projects exacerbate pollution and undermine resilience in our communities and stall real action on climate.

In short, the vision for a future powered by renewable natural gas is not based on facts – it’s based on fossil fuel industry talking points. By buying into their agenda, we risk stalling the roll-out of science-based climate solutions that are essential to protecting our health, livelihoods and prosperity.

Here in the San Joaquin Valley, we know that the stakes are too high. We will not allow fossil fuel or pseudo-renewable energy companies to thwart our transition to clean energy by pushing false climate solutions.

About the Author 

Blanca Escobedo is a policy advocate for the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.  She wrote this for CalMatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s Capitol works and why it matters. Contact bescobedo@leadershipcounsel.org

DON'T MISS

Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal

DON'T MISS

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

DON'T MISS

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

DON'T MISS

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

DON'T MISS

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

DON'T MISS

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

DON'T MISS

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

DON'T MISS

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

DON'T MISS

St. Agnes’ Newest Robot Promises Less Invasive Surgeries, Faster Recoveries

DON'T MISS

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

UP NEXT

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

UP NEXT

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

UP NEXT

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

UP NEXT

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

UP NEXT

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

UP NEXT

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

UP NEXT

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

UP NEXT

St. Agnes’ Newest Robot Promises Less Invasive Surgeries, Faster Recoveries

UP NEXT

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

UP NEXT

Why the Nation Would Be Wise to Support a Third Term Amendment for Donald Trump

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

13 hours ago

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

13 hours ago

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

13 hours ago

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

14 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

14 hours ago

St. Agnes’ Newest Robot Promises Less Invasive Surgeries, Faster Recoveries

14 hours ago

California Food Banks Brace for Funding Cuts, and Not Only From the Trump Administration

15 hours ago

Why the Nation Would Be Wise to Support a Third Term Amendment for Donald Trump

15 hours ago

RIP, Bill Lyles: One of Fresno’s Most Iconic Builders and Philanthropists

16 hours ago

Madera Authorities Seize 80 Pounds of Meth, Arrest Two Suspects

16 hours ago

Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal

JACKSONVILLE, Mi — Elon Musk has sold social media site X to his own xAI artificial intelligence company in a $33 billion all-stock deal, th...

12 hours ago

12 hours ago

Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal

12 hours ago

US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions

13 hours ago

Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters

13 hours ago

Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID

13 hours ago

Trump Pledges US Aid for Asia Quake Despite Former Official Saying System in ‘Shambles’

13 hours ago

Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

14 hours ago

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

14 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend