Coalbed Methane Outreach Program Accomplishments
The Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) strives to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities. Coal mine methane (CMM) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and can be an explosive hazard inside mines. If recovered safely and used for energy, CMM is a valuable and clean-burning fuel source. In the United States, CMOP works cooperatively with the coal mining industry to support project development; overcome institutional, technical, regulatory and financial barriers to implementation; and communicate the benefits of CMM recovery. Specific activities include:
- Identifying, evaluating, and promoting methane reduction options, including technological innovations and markets mechanisms to encourage project implementation
- Conducting workshops to educate the mining industry and the broader community on the environmental, safety and economic benefits of methane recovery
- Preparing and disseminating reports and other materials that address topics ranging from technical and economic analyses to overviews of legal issues
- Interfacing with all facets of the mining industry to advance project development and provide access to the latest relevant information to reduce methane emissions (CMM).
Achievements in 2022:
- Reduced CMM emissions by nearly 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2022 (see the following figure). Since the program began in 1994, cumulative reductions are approximately 252 MMTCO2e.
For consistency with EPA’s Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, CMOP now uses 28 as the GWP for methane per the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Guidelines.