TAKING STOCK: Opportunities and Challenges in California’s Natural Gas Distribution System
Methane is the primary component of natural gas and it is much more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Natural gas distribution systems around the country are leaking methane. Repairing those leaks will create quality jobs for workers, while addressing climate change. Taking Stock: Opportunities and Challenges in California’s Natural Gas Distribution System reveals best practices for repairing and replacing leak-prone natural gas pipes in the state.
Repairing aging and leak prone natural gas pipelines has the potential to address climate change as well create and support quality, family-sustaining jobs though building a more resilient pipeline system.
As part of a state-focused education and outreach project conducted throughout 2016, the BlueGreen Alliance convened stakeholder meetings and participated in public forums to build on existing knowledge and to engage frontline gas sector workers, environmental groups, elected officials and community stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities facing the network of natural gas distribution pipelines in the state of California.
The series of meetings has identified best practices in advancing distribution pipeline repair, replacement, and detection, which may be a model for other states around the nation. Taking Stock: Opportunities and Challenges in California’s Natural Gas Distribution System examines the current state of California’s natural gas distribution systems, summarizes the lessons learned during those discussions, and offers examples of commonsense best practices to follow to address this issue.