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Today the Biden administration is unveiling a sweeping set of policies to cut methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Announced at COP26, where Biden faces pressure to demonstrate that the U.S. is serious about mitigating climate change, the proposals represent one of President Biden's highest-impact efforts so far to combat climate change.
Today's announcement marks the first time that the federal government has attempted to comprehensively address methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure all across the country. Proposed rules from the EPA would establish standards for old wells, increase leak monitoring, and require methane capture. Many of the new changes involve requiring the industry to use updated equipment to spot and stop methane leaks—a strategy that has overwhelming public support, with 91% of Westerners in agreement.
Addressing methane emissions is a high-impact way to help prevent catastrophic climate changes: methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, making it a high priority at the United Nations COP26 negotiations. At the same time, reducing methane leaks will also help decrease smog and toxic chemicals near drilling sites, having a direct positive impact on human health. “Methane is such a potent pollutant. It’s important that we understand what the contribution is from this industry, that it is monitored more effectively and that we get the deep methane emission reductions that we know we need in order to meet the president’s agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
Although the oil industry has historically opposed federal methane regulations, many operators would now prefer a federal mandate in comparison to a patchwork of irregular state rules. The proposal will require states to develop methane rules for existing wells that align with federal guidelines, while the EPA will regulate all new wells. The EPA proposal could reduce methane emissions by about 41 million tons through 2035, which is more than the equivalent of the carbon dioxide emitted by all U.S. passenger cars and commercial aircraft in 2019. The agency plans to issue the final rule by the end of next year.
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My kids aren’t going to get to experience the Wyoming that I grew up in, and my grandchildren, surely not. I hope I’m wrong. I really do hope I’m wrong. But I doubt it.”
