Another blow against methane: LNG is worse for climate than coal at real-world leakage rates, says D

[unhappycamper]

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/gaius-publius/56501/another-blow-against-methane-lng-is-worse-for-climate-than-coal-at-real-world-leakage-rates-says-dept

Another blow against methane: LNG is worse for climate than coal at real-world leakage rates, says Dept. of Energy
by Gaius Publius | June 20, 2014 - 8:40am

Out of the Dept. of Energy’s own mouth — well, its accidentally honest press department — comes this stunner. Liquified natural gas (LNG, or methane compressed into a liquid for long-distance transportation) has no climate benefit.

Why, you may ask? Because all of the supposed climate “savings” are offset — or more than offset — by its leak rate. And thanks to the DoE, we can now translate various leak rates into measurable “global warming potential.” Methane is not a winner.

Let’s start with the valuable Joe Romm at ThinkProgress (my emphasis and paragraphing):

Energy Department Bombshell: LNG Has No Climate Benefit For Decades, IF EVER

An explosive new report from the U.S. Department of Energy makes clear that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is likely a climate-destroying misallocation of resources. That is, if one uses estimates for methane leakage based on actual observations.