Pitch
Natural gas leaking from pipes is a potent greenhouse gas. Make the natural gas companies fix the leaks before they build a new pipeline.
Description
Summary
EDIT: Leaking methane (a greenhouse gas) from gas lines under the city contributes to global warming. It also costs the city and residents in increased gas costs and kills city trees by displacing oxygen from the soil.
The gas company will only fix pipes when they reach explosive levels of methane, and even then only after using vented manhole covers. The utilities are not incentivized to do more because they are allowed to pass the cost of the wasted gas onto the ratepayers.
What actions do you propose?
Currently there is a bill at the state house that would make the utilities bear the cost instead. When a bill like this was made into law in Texas, over 50% of the leaks were fixed within 3 years.
The utility is the one that knows where the leaks are and how big they are and what the cheapest way is to fix them. They are the ones who can fix the problem most efficiently and inexpensively.
Somerville could pass a city wide resolution to support of the bill, telling the state legislators that this is something important to the city.
Who will take these actions?
Residents can push the city aldermen to pass this resolution. The aldermen would pass the resolution and then call the statehouse to say they had done so.
What are the key challenges?
What are the key benefits?
What are the proposal’s costs?
Time line
Related proposals
Value not set.References
"Mapping urban pipeline leaks: Methane leaks across Boston":http://www.bz
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