A simple problem can be solved with a simple solution, but more complex problems require a more nuanced approach, often using a combination of strategies. That’s the case with plans to mitigate methane emissions, which are not only potent and prevalent, but notoriously hard to quantify, with little common ground among industry, the government and the public about what steps should be taken next. In today’s RBN blog we look at the different approaches the U.S. is taking to regulate methane emissions and address other clean-energy priorities.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been a frequent topic at RBN over the past couple of years. Quite often the focus has been on carbon dioxide (CO2), but methane is an important part of those discussions too because it’s a particularly powerful GHG with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) that is 25-36 times that of CO2 when normalized to a 100-year timeline. (And an astonishing 86 times that of CO2 if normalized to a 20-year timeline.) A tricky part of the problem is that the actual level (and sources) of methane emissions can be hard to accurately identify and quantify, mostly because estimates can vary greatly depending on how they’re calculated, as we discussed in Part 1 of this series.
In Part 2, we turned our focus to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), which includes the federal government’s first penalty on GHG emissions of any kind starting at $900/MT (or about $17/MMBtu) beginning in 2024 ramping up to $1,500/MT (~29/MMBtu) in 2026.
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About the song
“Cover Me” was written by Bruce Springsteen and appears as the second song on side one of Springsteen’s seventh studio album, Born in the USA. Released as a single in July 1984, the song went to #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts. It has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song was recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City in January 1982. Springsteen had originally written “Cover Me” for Donna Summer, but his manager, Jon Landau, decided to keep the song for Springsteen’s Born in the USA album because of its hit potential. Personnel on the album were: Bruce Springsteen (lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar), Roy Bittan (piano, synthesizer, backing vocals), Clarence Clemons (sax, percussion, backing vocals), Danny Federici (organ), Garry Tallent (bass, backing vocals), Steven Van Zandt (rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Max Weinberg (drums, backing vocals), and Richie Rosenberg (backing vocals).
Born in the USA was recorded between January 1982 and March 1984 at The Hit Factory and Record Plant in New York City. Produced by Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt, the album was released in June 1984. It remains Springsteen's biggest-selling album with sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. Recorded with the E Street Band, the album went to #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and has been certified 15x Platinum by the RIAA. Seven singles were released from the LP.
Bruce Springsteen is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician. Nicknamed “The Boss,” he is known for his song lyrics and high-energy concerts, some that have lasted over four hours. He has released 21 studio albums, 23 live albums, eight compilation albums, one soundtrack album, seven EPs, and 77 singles, most of which feature his E Street Band. He has sold more than 140 million records worldwide. He has won one Academy Award, two Golden Globes, 20 Grammy Awards, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has received Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Arts. Springsteen continues to record and begins an extensive international tour with his E Street Band on April 28 in Barcelona, Spain.
