Trump Administration Aims to Reshape Methane Emission Regulations
In a move that could significantly impact the oil and gas sector, the Trump administration has proposed changes to a rule designed to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, from drilling sites across the United States.
Methane, a major contributor to climate change, has a warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The Biden administration had finalized rules in 2023 to curb these emissions within the oil and gas industry.
While campaigning in Lubbock, Texas, President Trump announced the proposed revision under the Clean Air Act, claiming it would save the industry billions in production costs and encourage more domestic drilling. This proposal comes at a time when Republicans are addressing voter concerns over high gas prices in the lead-up to the midterms.
“Behind every barrel of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas produced in the U.S. are millions of workers, businesses, and the heartbeat of this nation’s economy. The Biden EPA destructively targeted all this,” stated EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a press release.
The oil and gas industry, which had strongly opposed the 2023 rules, welcomed the proposed rollback. Dustin Meyer, vice president at the American Petroleum Institute, expressed optimism about working with the Trump administration on a “more workable approach.”
However, environmentalists argue that the changes could ultimately be more costly. Jon Goldstein from the Environmental Defense Fund pointed out that capturing more natural gas, rather than allowing it to leak, increases the product available for sale, thereby offsetting costs.
“That is harmful to our energy security, and it’s harmful to taxpayers that ought to be seeing royalty and tax revenue collected off of this gas that’s going to waste,” Goldstein added.
Among the regulations facing potential cuts is the “Methane Super Emitter Program.” This program, set to start in January 2027, allows certified third parties to monitor and report significant methane leaks.
Paasha Mahdavi, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara, noted that without this program, it would be challenging for the government to identify large methane leaks. “And we need that because it’s really hard to see this stuff,” he explained.
The proposed changes also aim to relax rules on methane emissions from “marginal” oil wells, which are considered economically limited. Goldstein argued that these wells, contrary to common belief, are significant sources of methane pollution.
The EPA will open a 45-day public comment period, including a public hearing, once the proposed changes are published in the Federal Register.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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