Source: WRAL
A group of students from Cary have taken action to address a seldom talked about variable in climate change; abandoned oil and gas wells.
Sebastian Ng, a senior at Panther Creek High School, first heard about the matter from his friend Mateo De La Rocha. “When Mateo told me about orphan wells, I hadn’t heard of them before,” Ng said.
Abandoned oil and gas wells, also referred to as orphaned wells, are inactive wells with no proper owner and are deemed environmental hazards by the United States Department of Interior as they “Jeopardize public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, emitting noxious gasses like methane, littering the landscape with rusted and dangerous equipment, creating flooding and sinkhole risks, and harming wildlife.” The U.S. is home to an estimated 3.9 million abandoned oil and gas wells. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2022 these wells collectively emitted 303,000 metric tons of methane, which is similar to 23 gas-burning power plants emissions annually.
Ng, after doing research on the matter and realizing its significance, alongside De La Rocha and friend Lila Gisondi, began fundraising efforts through their group Youth Climate Initiative. The students have also partnered with the Well Done Foundation, a nonprofit that has plugged 44 oil wells since 2019.
The Youth Climate initiative raised $11,000 to help plug a well in Akron, Ohio, and alongside the Well Done Foundation, the group is currently working to tackle a well in Toole County, Montana. Any donations to the Youth Climate Initiative for that project will be matched by the Reimer Family Climate Crisis Fund. Curtis Shuck praised the Youth Climate initiative for the work they have done not just fundraising but also in bringing awareness to the problem.
The story of the Ng is one of individual power. It is testimony that every person can make a difference.
“When I was younger, I didn’t see the value of individual actions. But now, seeing the difference we can make, it’s incredibly fulfilling,” Ng said. “We’ve seen the impact of our work firsthand. It’s motivating to know that even small actions can lead to significant environmental benefits.”
Ng plans to major in environmental science in college to continue working for a sustainable future.
