{"id":253,"date":"2016-01-31T10:20:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-31T15:20:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utilitieslocal.com\/news\/?p=253"},"modified":"2016-01-29T09:44:01","modified_gmt":"2016-01-29T14:44:01","slug":"porter-ranch-gas-leak-might-just-be-one-of-thousands-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utilitieslocal.com\/news\/porter-ranch-gas-leak-might-just-be-one-of-thousands-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Porter Ranch gas leak might just be ‘one of thousands’ in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

Gas leak in CA may only be the tip of the iceberg<\/h2>\n

An ongoing natural gas leak crisis in Porter Ranch, CA is putting the spotlight on underground natural gas wells across the United States.<\/p>\n

The well currently under scrutiny in California, which is run by SoCal Gas Company site, began in late October and has been spewing an estimated 100,000 pounds of methane into the air each hour<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Natural<\/a>

Natural gas leak in California causes health, environmental problems<\/h4><\/a>Read more<\/a><\/div>\n

Health and environmental concerns<\/h3>\n

Not only has the ongoing leak caused a swath of health concerns for now largely displaced residents of Porter Ranch, but environmentalists say that it is also contributing to global warming<\/strong><\/a> by releasing the the equivalent of 2.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the leak was first reported back in October 2015.<\/p>\n

\"California<\/a>

California Governor declares state of emergency due to natural gas leak<\/h4><\/a>Read more<\/a><\/div>\n

State of Emergency<\/h3>\n

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency this month<\/strong><\/a> to aid the recovery process, but the leak most likely won’t be fully contained until March.<\/p>\n

\"Michigan<\/a>

Michigan has a lot of underground natural gas storage<\/h4><\/a>Read more<\/a><\/div>\n

One of thousands of leaks<\/h3>\n

The leak in Porter Ranch is both massive and deep (8,500 feet underground), so it may be a bit on the extreme side of things, but, nonetheless, experts estimate tht there are thousands of methane leaks across the U.S.<\/strong><\/a> — a situation that needs to be addressed in light of the California situation.<\/p>\n

Some states have taken measures to examine their own natural gas plants and processes in the wake of the Porter Ranch leak. Michigan<\/strong><\/a>, for example, has come out and stated concern about its own underground gas infrastructure<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

California natural gas leak just one of thousands across country https:\/\/t.co\/a3WL546dRK<\/a><\/p>\n

— Utilities Local (@UtilitiesLocal) January 26, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n