How Detecting Methane Leaks Could Turn Into Big Business

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Photo: Methane Plant (AP)
A methane gathering and digesting facility at a California dairy.

Methane is much more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere, and contributing to climate change, than carbon dioxide. And methane comes from a lot of things: cities, cows, oil and gas operations to name a few. Now it looks like detecting leaks of methane from all those sources could be big business. University of Colorado Research Scientist Carolina Alden and Greg Rieker, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder, tell Colorado Matters about a new venture to create the best technology to find methane leaks affordably and reliably. Their technology could have national security applications, as well.

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