Possible Oil Spill In Benzie County On Cold Creek

Posted: Apr 07, 2014 4:20 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 15, 2014 11:37 AM EDT

Developing news in Benzie County where the Department of Environmental Quality is investigating a possible oil spill.

An oily sheen can be seen in the Cold Creek in downtown Beulah, not far from Crystal Lake.

Pictures show booms in the water, and an oily substance near the water's edge.

But the DEQ says they still aren't sure if it is in fact oil or something else.

The DEQ says the substance could be a number of things, but didn't want to elaborate until they've met with the team who's been on scene for the last couple of days. They will meet Tuesday.

9&10 News will bring you continuing coverage as new details come in.

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Is natural gas more climate-friendly? Researchers map thousands of leaks in Washington, D.C.

E & E Publishing

Stephanie Paige Ogburn, E&E reporter

ClimateWire: Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Bob Ackley may be the only person who has driven up and down every single street -- 1,500 miles total -- in Washington, D.C.

While Ackley, a plain-speaking New Englander, enjoyed exploring the nation's capital, which he described as "beautiful," this was serious business. He was measuring leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is also the main component of natural gas. Measured in terms of warming the atmosphere, methane is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

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Gangplank to a Warm Future

New York Times

By ANTHONY R. INGRAFFEA
Published: July 28, 2013

ITHACA, N.Y. — MANY concerned about climate change, including President Obama, have embraced hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. In his recent climate speech, the president went so far as to lump gas with renewables as “clean energy.”

As a longtime oil and gas engineer who helped develop shale fracking techniques for the Energy Department, I can assure you that this gas is not “clean.” Because of leaks of methane, the main component of natural gas, the gas extracted from shale deposits is not a “bridge” to a renewable energy future — it’s a gangplank to more warming and away from clean energy investments.

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