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Study Finds NYC Methane Loss Triple Local Estimates

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 11:59 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. researchers led by Yuwei Zhao found most New York City methane emissions stem from incomplete building combustion.
The study measured methane loss at roughly 1.7 % of gas delivered to New York City and northeast New Jersey.
That loss equates to about $300 million per year using 2023-2024 retail gas prices.
Local inventories assumed 0.5 % loss, yet the study found 1.7 % loss, about three times higher.

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Story summary

U.S. researchers led by Yuwei Zhao found most New York City methane emissions stem from incomplete building combustion.
The study measured methane loss at roughly 1.7 % of gas delivered to New York City and northeast New Jersey.
That loss equates to about $300 million per year using 2023-2024 retail gas prices.
Local inventories assumed 0.5 % loss, yet the study found 1.7 % loss, about three times higher.