Did you know old pipes cause natural gas to leak into our air? The Squeaky Leaks Project is tackling this issue in Cambridge and Somerville. In June, their team will drive down every street in Cambridge and Somerville with a high-precision methane analyzer. With the information they collect, they will post the maps of the leaks to the public, pinpoint the worst leaks, and create a national website where any community can post a map of their leaks and organize citizens to call those leaks in until they are fixed.
Why is this important?
- Natural gas (before it is burned) is a potent greenhouse gas; 34 times more destructive than CO2.
- The gas is delivered through pipes under our streets. Many of these pipes were installed pre-1950. These ancient pipes rust and leak gas, damaging our climate, suffocating our trees, and potentially cause explosions.
- The utilities pass the cost of this waste onto you in your gas bill, forcing you to pay for hurting the planet. The total cost for lost gas in Massachusetts alone is $640 million per year at the minimum (according to Sen. Ed Markey).
Help further support this initiative by attending their upcoming fundraiser!
The Asgard Irish Pub and Restaurant
350 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)
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