Comment Log Display

We support the proposal of Wasteful Unreasonable Methane Uprising,
led by Todd Shuman of Camarillo. To summarize we support the
following:

1: SCGC/Sempra finance freestall dairy barn enclosures with
methane captured and vented to biofilters.

2: SCGC/Sempra finance livestock herd size reduction to reduce
cattle-related enteric methane emissions and mitigate environmental
justice-related impacts associated with dairies and gas wells.

3: CARB institute a Methane Fee on those legally responsible for
the generation of more than 40 pounds of uncaptured, unburnt
methane emissions per year pay an annual fee on each ton. The fee
can be designed in one of two ways:

A:  100 percent of the baseline value of $4700 of damages per ton
of methane (in 2007 dollars or $5372 in 2015 dollars) that is
presented in The social cost of atmospheric release, Drew T.
Shindell, Climatic Change (2015) 130:313–326, DOI
10.1007/s10584-015-1343-0, page 319, Table 2, Median total;
declining rate."

B: A methane-into-CO2-equivalency conversion algorithm/calculation
that incorporates the most recent
scientifically-defensible 10-year interval methane GWP constant (at
best) or 20-year interval methane GWP constant (at worst). The
methane GWP constant used for such calculations should also
incorporate climate-carbon feedbacks. This would result in a
current methane price per ton of approximately 1120 dollars per
ton. (Current price of CO2e [$13/ton] X 86 [20-yr methane GWP, IPCC
AR5th]. See http://calcarbondash.org/.

4: Enact measures to require SoCalGas/Sempra to finance reductions
in methane emissions from other sources, including pneumatic
devices, pumps, and compressors used within the natural gas
industry.

If California is to distinguish itself as a climate policy leader,
it must demonstrate the vision, accountability and political will
to tax methane. The disaster that the Aliso Canyon leak represents
to the future of life on earth is best redeemed by serving as a
platform for the most difficult policy challenge of all--a tax on
unburnt methane. It HAS to be one and the sooner you do it, the
better. We are clearly running out of time and methane is showing
itself to be at least as big an immediate issue as CO2. Please take
courage and do your job.