I heard the earthquake cracked 'em.
"Thousands of gas leaks in Boston area; As use of methane increases, old pipes pose risks, group says; utility companies see no danger" by August 17, 2011|By Neena Satija, Globe Correspondent
When Nathan Phillips started driving the streets of Boston looking for natural gas leaks, he was stunned to find they numbered in the thousands.
The Boston University associate professor of geography and the environment wanted to document the extent of leaks because of concerns that the gas could harm trees and add to greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Then he found a leak that posed a more immediate danger, and it was near his home.
Phillips found the leak at a manhole in front of the West Newton Cinema. Twice in the past month, he detected the levels of methane in the atmosphere there to be about 6 percent, which regulators and gas companies consider a potential explosion hazard.
Yes, that would concern me a lot more than fart mist.
“I tended to downplay’’ the explosion risk of gas leaks at first, said Phillips. “But now that I have seen with my own eyes at least one case … I do think that is actually part of the overall problem now.’’
Natural gas is one of the fastest growing forms of energy in the United States, embraced as an abundant resource and a better alternative to coal-fired power plants, which emit far more greenhouse gases.
Okay, setting aside the whole global warming gas causing bad decisions; even if it is happening, what is bad about more plants and longer growing seasons?
I'm so sick of the conventional wisdom box if nothing else, readers.
But aging pipelines in Massachusetts that deliver natural gas to more than 1.2 million homes have more than 21,000 leaks, according to gas company records.
Maybe I should go measure the manhole out front.
While gas companies and regulators say most leaks pose no immediate danger and do not need to be repaired, some legislators and former gas company workers disagree...
Yeah, until one blows a fireball up into the street.
I guess global warming doesn't mean much when it is methane coming up through the manholes.
It's always the same old thing from business and government!
The REAL THREATS are met with "don't worry, no problem," while the MANUFACTURED and CONTRIVED CRAP are endlessly pushed as "urgent."
--more--"
Related: San Bruno Suffers Indigestion
No, nothing to worry about, Boston.
