Methane
Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas that is over 80 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It is also a precursor to ground-level ozone formation. Colorado is one of the leading states in addressing methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sector, which is the largest anthropogenic source of methane in the state. Reducing methane emissions provides near-term climate benefits and improves local air quality.
Methane 101
Key facts about methane:
- 80x more potent than CO2 over 20 years
- Shorter atmospheric lifetime (~12 years vs CO2's centuries)
- Precursor to ground-level ozone
- Responsible for ~30% of global warming since pre-industrial times
- Reducing methane provides fastest climate benefit
Sources of Methane
Colorado's methane sources:
- Oil & Gas (60%+) - leaks from wells, pipelines, processing plants, especially in the Denver-Julesburg Basin
- Agriculture (15%) - livestock (enteric fermentation), manure management
- Landfills (12%) - decomposing organic waste
- Coal mines - abandoned and active mines
- Natural wetlands
How Does Methane Impact You?
Methane impacts in Colorado:
- Contributes to ground-level ozone formation (worsening Front Range air quality)
- Accelerates climate change effects: wildfire, drought, heat
- Co-emitted with VOCs and air toxics near oil & gas sites
- Community health concerns near production areas
- Economic waste (leaked methane = wasted natural gas)
How Is Colorado Addressing Methane?
Regulation:
- GHG Intensity Verification Rule (AQCC, 2023)
- Regulation 7 - leak detection and repair
- First U.S. state to approve drone-based methane LDAR (2024)
- Regulation 31 - landfill methane controls (2025)
Monitoring:
- COBE: 30,000+ aerial scans of 11,000 facilities
- NOAA AiRMAPS 5-year aircraft campaign
- GHGSat and MethaneSAT satellite monitoring
- Carbon Mapper aerial surveys