Web exclusive posted Dec. 8, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. CST

The U.S. EPA published the third annual Methane to Markets (M2M) partnership report in November. Launched in 2004, M2M is a public/private partnership that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the promotion of cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane.

According to the report, titled "U.S. Government Accomplishments in Support of the Methane to Markets Partnership," the partnership has expanded from the original 14 partner nations to 27 partner countries. More than 800 project network members have also been recruited from all around the world.

In 2007, the United States provided $10.2 million in support of the program. Since the partnership's inception, the United States has committed a total of $28.5 million to a range of projects. According to the report, once fully completed, these projects will reduce annual emissions by an estimated 24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2E). In addition, between 2005 and 2007 the United States leveraged more than $271 in private and public sector contributions, and has initiated direct assistance agreements for methane recovery and use projects in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

It's estimated that within 10 years the partnership could potentially reduce methane emissions by an estimated 180 MMTCO2E, which is equivalent to recovering more than 760 billion cubic feet of natural gas and the annual emissions from 50 million cars. This reduction in emissions can also be compared to eliminating the annual emissions from 76 500-megawatt coal-fired plants. The report said that if achieved, these reductions could lead to stabilized or declining levels of global atmospheric concentrations of methane.

The M2M partnership focuses on developing projects in the areas of agriculture, landfills, coal mines, as well as oil and gas systems. Even though cost-effective methane emission reduction technologies are currently available to aid in capturing and using methane emissions in each of these areas, use is not widespread. Financial, institutional, informational, and regulatory barriers in many countries impede project development. The partnership is working to identify and address these barriers.

Since its formation, the partnership has tracked the development of more than 140 methane emissions reductions projects in M2M partner nations and has held 41 events in 13 nations. The first Partnership Expo, held in Beijing in 2007, brought together more than 700 members of the international methane community and showcased more than 90 potential methane capture and use projects from around the world. A second Partnership Expo is planned for 2010.

"The U.S. Governments Methane to Markets Partnership Accomplishments" report was developed collaboratively by the EPA, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. DOE, the USDA and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

M2M partner nations include, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, European Commission, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

For more information on the M2M partnership, visit www.methanetomarkets.org. A full copy of the third annual M2M partnership report is available online at www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/pdf/2008-accomplish-report/m2m08_usg_report_08_scrnrez.pdf.