The ruminant livestock industry is frequently blamed for release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.  A recent study has shown that underground gas storage facilities are exceptionally large emitters of methane.  The Petal, MS. gas storage station, located near Hattiesburg, MS. emits methane equivalent to 123,663 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The Petal facility stores up to 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas in an underground salt dome.  Although ranked as the 41st largest underground gas storage facility in the U.S., it is the largest emitter of methane.  The Gulf South Pipeline Inc. that owns the facility recorded emission of 4,947 metric tons of methane in 2020, the largest emitter among the top-10 storage facilities and approximately four times greater than the next largest emitter.

Enigmatically, methane emissions from the Petal storage facility do not violate either state or federal laws. The Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with oil and gas companies through the Natural Gas STAR Program to reduce emissions.  It is calculated that methane release could be reduced by 90 percent simply by modifying compressors at a relatively low capital cost and with a short payback period through reducing loss of natural gas vented to the atmosphere.

It would appear easier for environmentalists to condemn cattle producers and to promote a vegan agenda rather than address modifications at ten storage facilities that have a combined annual carbon dioxide equivalent release of over 220,000 metric tons.