Trump administration weakens rules on methane leaks from oil and gas

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 02:38 · Archive

President Trump announced his administration will weaken Biden-era regulations on methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

President Trump announced at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas on Tuesday that his administration will weaken Biden-era regulations on methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Trump said the move will save consumers and energy producers $45 billion and unlock 210 million barrels of oil, equivalent to about ten days of US petroleum consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency said it is reversing previous efforts to limit methane leaks from wells and pipelines.

The changes will particularly affect low-producing, high-emitting wells that produce about 6 to 7 per cent of US oil and gas but generate about 50 per cent of US methane emissions. The EPA is expected to ease standards for these so-called 'marginal wells' and end the Super Emitter Program, which previously notified operators of large methane releases of 100 kilograms per hour or more. Methane is the main component of natural gas and traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide in the short term.

The Biden-era rules that are being rolled back were announced at a 2023 UN climate conference and were expected to cut methane emissions by 80 per cent over 14 years, preventing an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the Trump administration's proposal addresses concerns that oil and gas producers raised about the Biden rules being too expensive and unworkable, though some major oil companies such as Chevron had publicly supported the emissions controls. The Guardian reports that industry trade groups and oil companies worked behind the scenes to undermine the regulations despite some executives speaking publicly in favour of them.

Trump framed the change as ending what he called 'crippling regulations on methane that caused prices to skyrocket' for small operators. He said the move aims to encourage more domestic drilling as he faces criticism over high fuel prices amid the US military involvement in Iran. The announcement continues the Trump administration's systematic dismantling of climate policies enacted under former President Joe Biden, including revocation of scientific findings on greenhouse gas emissions, lower fuel economy standards for vehicles, and moves to repeal emission restrictions for coal and natural gas power plants.

How it is being reported

• Trump says government to ’terminate’ Biden-era methane emissions rulesCritics warn of climate danger as president in Texas claims change will save companies and consumers billions Donald Trump announced his administration is “terminating” Biden-era regulations holding oil and gas companies accountable for large leaks of planet-warming methane during a rally in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday evening. Trump said during a campaign rally in Texas that the change would save consumers and energy producers $45bn and unlock 210 million barrels of oil – equivalent to about 10 days of US petroleum consumption. Continue reading...Guardian World · 28 Oct, 01:18
• Reports: Trump to loosen rules on methane emissions for oil firmsThe Trump administration plans to announce weakened rules on methane emissions for oil and gas companies, multiple sources reported Tuesday.UPI · 27 Oct, 21:53
• Trump plans to loosen restrictions on methane emissions from oil drillingPresident Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to loosen a Biden-era rule that aimed to reduce planet-warming emissions of methane from oil and gas drillingIndependent World · 27 Oct, 20:02
• Trump is making it easier for fossil fuel companies to leak methaneIn its latest gift to oil and gas companies, the Trump administration is expected to announce plans today to weaken rules that guard against methane leaks. Methane is a smog-forming pollutant and a powerful greenhouse gas that's up to 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide on a 20-year horizon. It's the primary component of […]The Verge · 27 Oct, 18:25

In this story: Donald Trump · Joe Biden · Environmental Protection Agency · Lee Zeldin · Chevron · Texas · United States

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