Reducing Emissions
Study confirms lower emissions from natural gas
The government’s National Energy Technology Laboratory recently took a look at life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas production. Their findings – that utilities see big emissions reductions when switching from coal to natural gas to generate electricity – provide further reason for policymakers to encourage the development of America’s abundant gas resources.
Greater U.S. shale gas production helps deliver a drop in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions
Americans have seen numerous benefits flow from increased production of natural gas from shale and other unconventional sources – from more jobs to greater revenue and economic activity. But the benefits of shale gas development are not only economic – they are environmental as well, as findings from the International Energy Agency confirm. According to the IEA, greater use of natural gas instead of coal in the United States has contributed to a significant drop in overall U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
Power from garbage and other innovations are helping cut energy use and emissions
A Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee hearing today featured executives from several companies who have made investments in their operations to reduce energy use and emissions. It’s no surprise that such investments not only help protect the environment, but also help a company’s bottom line. At a company like ExxonMobil, with large and complex operations around the world, the benefits of such investments are significant – saving energy, emissions and costs. So I thought I’d share a few examples of our successful projects around the globe.
New alliance will focus on breakthrough oil sands technologies
More good news about innovation and progress in oil sands development came from Canada late last week. In Calgary, the chief executive officers from 12 oil sands-producing companies – including ExxonMobil’s affiliate Imperial Oil – signed a charter to create Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). This organization is designed to pool companies’ expertise in oil sands technologies and processes and build upon the independent research and development already taking place.
Oil sands innovation: Greater efficiency, fewer emissions, more supply
The oil contained in Canada’s oil sands is one of the largest energy resources in the world. To produce it in a way that’s not only economic but also has less impact on the environment has been one of the great engineering and technology challenges of our industry. ExxonMobil and our Canadian affiliate Imperial Oil have been investing in this challenge for more than 40 years.
Cornell vs. Cornell: Turns out shale gas emissions really are lower than coal
A Cornell University study came out last spring with what many thought was an unbelievable finding that lifecycle emissions from shale gas could be higher than those of coal. A subsequent Cornell University study has shown that finding really was unbelievable. This subsequent study, recently published by Professor Lawrence Cathles and his colleagues at Cornell, criticizes the methodology and findings of last year’s study by Cornell Professor Robert Howarth and his colleagues.
