DTE Energy: Request for Report on Methane Leaks
WHEREAS: The long term interests of shareholders are best served by companies that operate their businesses in a sustainable manner, focused on long term value creation. This is particularly important in the context of climate change.
Methane is the main chemical component of natural gas. Methane emissions are a significant contributor to climate change, with a global warming impact roughly 86 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20 year period according to the IPCC. Methane leaks from DTE Energy’s aging infrastructure create significant climate risk at a time when global warming concerns are growing among the public and regulators. Importantly, research indicates that methane leaks of only 3.2 percent across the entire natural gas supply chain -- from production through distribution -- could fully erase the climate benefits of replacing coal with gas. Leaked methane is also a loss of product, representing 30 billion dollars of lost revenue for industry (3 percent of gas produced) according to a 2015 Rhodium Group study.
DTE’s methane leaks expose the company to climate change related regulatory risk. In recent years state-level regulations on methane emissions have become increasingly stringent. States like California and Massachusetts now require local distribution companies to submit plans to achieve methane emissions reductions from actions like leak-prone pipeline replacement, and other states are likely to follow.
Methane leaks are also a safety hazard. DTE’s aging pipeline infrastructure puts its over 1.3 million gas customers at risk of becoming victims of a catastrophic explosion. Recently, 1,500 residents had to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night due to a crash that ruptured a DTE natural gas line, causing an explosion and fire. Between 2005 and 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reports that the nation’s natural gas distribution system was responsible for incidents resulting in 118 fatalities and 553 injuries.
DTE’s 25-year plan to upgrade its leak-prone pipeline inventory falls far short of the urgent action needed to protect shareholders from material climate and regulatory risk and the risk of catastrophic explosions. Further, the company has not adequately disclosed information as to its leak detection, quantification, or mitigation practices to address shareholder concerns. Despite available, cost-effective technology allowing increased frequency and accuracy of monitoring, DTE has not provided details on needed improvements in its leak detection and monitoring or other methane emissions reduction practices.
BE IT RESOLVED: As You Sow requests the company report annually to shareholders (at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information), and using quantitative indicators, the company’s actions beyond regulatory requirements to monitor and minimize methane leakage, including adopting a quantitative methane intensity reduction target for its operations.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Investors request the report specifically include a description of its methane reduction program including:
Leak detection and repair, in terms of facilities monitored, and frequency and technology used
Amount of methane emissions reduced annually (and how emissions are calculated)
Company plans to replace leak prone pipeline or implement other emission reduction practices
Resolution Details
Company:
DTE Energy
Lead Filer: As You Sow
Year: 2018
Filing Date: November 2017
Initiative(s): Methane
Status: Withdrawn, company will address