Supporting EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Drawing on more than 30 years of air rulemaking experience, ERG is supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the development and implementation of a fast-paced rulemaking action (Part 98) that will require facilities in many industrial sectors to report their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). ERG assisted EPA by developing issue papers (e.g., affected sources, reporting thresholds, types of emissions that must be reported, GHG emission calculation protocols, and reporting requirements) and developing technical background information to support Part 98. ERG is also providing outreach, training, database development, and meeting support for the program.
Creating the Clean Energy Benefits Calculator
ERG created a Web-based calculator to help Connecticut residents understand the environmental impact of their electricity use. The Connecticut Clean Energy Benefits Calculator enables consumers to compute the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with their home or business's electricity use and to see how those emissions would change with the purchase of clean renewable energy. The tool calculates the pounds of CO2 emissions reduced and the reduction equivalencies, such as gasoline or oil saved, acres of forest planted, or cars removed from the road. ERG performed this project on behalf of the state of Connecticut and EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership (CEESP) program, which works with states to advance clean energy strategies.
Reducing Methane Emissions Through Natural Gas STAR
For 20 years, ERG has supported a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to improve efficiency and reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. Methane is the primary constituent of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas. In support of the Natural Gas STAR program, ERG recruits and markets new partners in the oil and gas industry and helps partners fulfill their partnership requirements. The ERG staff also develops technical support documents, case studies, outreach and marketing materials, and program tools; facilitates annual partner reporting and prepares partner-specific summary/benchmarking reports; and develops and maintain the Natural Gas STAR Web site.
Launching and Supporting the Methane to Markets Partnership
Through the Methane to Markets Partnership, ERG works with countries around the world to develop projects to reduce methane emissions. ERG helped the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launch the program, providing technical and event planning support for a ministerial meeting, at which 14 national governments signed on as partners. ERG has helped grow the partnership to include 26 partner countries and the European Commission; recruit nearly 800 organizations into the project network; and organize more than 41 events in 13 countries, including an expo in China that was the world’s largest gathering of methane professionals in history. ERG also supports the partnership’s subcommittees on agriculture (manure management), coal mines, landfills, and oil and gas systems. In addition, ERG supports the partnership’s Web site, produces the quarterly newsletter, and publishes reports on the partnership’s accomplishments.