State and local rules around natural gas production are hindering efforts to combat climate change. Three common misconceptions affect how we respond to this issue.
First, some people insist climate change isn’t real or won’t matter much. This is simply not true. Hundreds of studies confirm rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ice melting in polar regions. The second misconception is that we can easily and quickly fix climate change with little expense. A recent editorial in The Wall Street Journal sheds light on this issue, explaining that reliance on coal has prevented outages during extreme winter storms. On January 25, coal produced 40% of electricity in the Midwest and 24% in the Mid-Atlantic. In contrast, renewable sources like solar and wind were not enough to meet demand during harsh weather.
According to the International Energy Agency, global coal consumption increased by 9% in 2021. This resurgence shows how dependent many regions still are on fossil fuels, complicating the transition to cleaner energy.
Despite spending vast amounts on renewable energy, we’re still far from our climate goals. Simply put, adapting to and mitigating climate change will be expensive long-term objectives. The misconception that we can implement these changes quickly has been proven false, especially when looking at New England. There, a significant portion of electricity comes from costly fuel oils, often imported. Most natural gas in the region is also imported as liquefied natural gas, which isn’t ideal either.
The situation in New England illustrates a more significant issue—state-level restrictions hamper progress. For example, New York’s refusal to issue permits for natural gas production and pipeline construction is a barrier to accessing clean energy sources. New Hampshire has also turned down projects that could help channel carbon-free hydropower from Canada into New England.
Many believe federal agencies could streamline this permitting process to facilitate interstate projects. However, politicians from both parties have been slow to acknowledge the severity of these permitting challenges.
In conclusion, tackling climate change requires a balanced approach. We must address both the reality of climate science and remove bureaucratic obstacles to implement effective solutions. Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward meaningful action.
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climate change,electric grid,energy regulation,general permits,natural gas,nepa,state regulation
