Do Not Incentivize Greenhouse Gas Production in Missouri

I urge you to oppose SB829 (Rowden) and HB2193 (O'Donnell) because we must support a rapid decrease of greenhouse gas emissions in order to avert the worst impacts of our already changing climate. Establishing a "renewable" natural gas program would incentive the increased production and increased burning of methane from landfills and confined agricultural feeding operations (CAFOs). Missouri should be promoting electrification, not increased burning of methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas. So-called "renewable natural gas" is mostly methane, which pound for pound, the comparative impact of methane is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Air pollution hurts everyone, with people of color and low-income families suffering disproportionately from fossil fuel pollution. Gas appliances in residential and commercial buildings produce nearly seven times more nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than gas power plants do. Nitrogen oxide leads to ozone, commonly called "smog", which can cause asthma and respiratory diseases. Recent research found that air pollution levels in 60% of homes with gas stoves exceeded the US EPA's definition of clean air, meaning that the air pollution levels in these homes would be illegal if found outdoors. Allowing gas corporations to increase rates "at the time the initial investment was made" rather than waiting until an investment is deemed prudent - after it is providing a service to customers - undermines consumer protections and serves as a blank check for the corporations that will be difficult to claw back if misused. Customers should not have to provide what amounts to a direct subsidy for gas corporations, especially when record levels of Missourians are unable to pay their bills because of the pandemic and associated economic crisis. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to oppose both of these bills.