Davis study on gas power plants cited

AirUCI faculty Steve Davis is co-author of a study which shows that replacing coal powered energy generating plants with natural gas powered plants may not have the intended effect of reducing global warming gases.  While burning natural gas reduces by half the CO2 released into the atmosphere, the emissions and methane leaks from new gas plants zero out the CO2 cuts achieved from closing coal plants.
 
The new study marks one of the first major attempts to measure the cumulative lifetime emissions from the U.S. power sector since the fracking boom shifted the majority of electricity production to natural gas. "The increased reliance on gas plants has slashed current emissions, but it has extended the runway, and the tradeoffs are negating each other,” said Steve. Read the article