A gas that causes climate change is bubbling out of reservoirs
Methane, the second-biggest contributor to climate change, is spewing into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry, landfills and dairy farms. It’s also coming from another lesser-known source: reservoirs. As plants break down underwater, they form methane, which then bubbles to the surface. California doesn’t monitor how much is coming from these waters, but now several environmental groups are urging air regulators to find out, and some experts agree it’s important. … The coalition of environmental groups — including Friends of the River, Tell The Dam Truth and five other organizations, as well as the clothing company Patagonia — submitted a petition last month saying the California Air Resources Board should require reports on greenhouse gases from dams and reservoirs.
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