Who Released The Toxic Plume Of Methane In Florida?
Stanford University professor Adam Brandt said the methane is likely from an "industrial facility, power plant, or gas compression or handling system," calling it, "a significant leak."
The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department told Bloomberg they're "unaware of any incidents that may have contributed to methane emissions."
Bloomberg dug around and found that Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) requested an exemption on its air permits on April 24 to replace a steam turbine generator at its J.R. Kelly power plant, which is about 12 miles south from where the methane cloud was spotted.
GRU has yet to disclose when the turbine was replaced. Also near where the plume was detected, the utility company has at least two more power plants, one that runs on natural gas and another on coal.
In the same area, Energy Transfer LP's Florida Gas Transmission has natural gas pipelines and compressor stations. The energy company didn't report any planned releases or disruptions in early May.
Underneath the area of where the plume was spotted is land owned by forest products company Weyerhauser Co. Christine Berish, development review manager for Alachua County's Department of Growth, said the forestry company "doesn't have development projects in that area."
How the toxic plume was released remains a mystery.
Stanford University professor Adam Brandt said the methane is likely from an "industrial facility, power plant, or gas compression or handling system," calling it, "a significant leak."
The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department told Bloomberg they're "unaware of any incidents that may have contributed to methane emissions."
Bloomberg dug around and found that Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) requested an exemption on its air permits on April 24 to replace a steam turbine generator at its J.R. Kelly power plant, which is about 12 miles south from where the methane cloud was spotted.
GRU has yet to disclose when the turbine was replaced. Also near where the plume was detected, the utility company has at least two more power plants, one that runs on natural gas and another on coal.
In the same area, Energy Transfer LP's Florida Gas Transmission has natural gas pipelines and compressor stations. The energy company didn't report any planned releases or disruptions in early May.
Underneath the area of where the plume was spotted is land owned by forest products company Weyerhauser Co. Christine Berish, development review manager for Alachua County's Department of Growth, said the forestry company "doesn't have development projects in that area."
How the toxic plume was released remains a mystery.
