Anticipated EPA methane rollback proposal would encourage the worst forms of pollution and waste during a global energy crisis

In response to reports that tonight EPA will propose to weaken methane standards for the oil and gas industry, EDF issued the following statement. Administrator Zeldin previewed the proposal earlier this month at a closed-door oil and gas industry event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and EDF issued an earlier statement in response to his announcement.

“America needs more energy, not more energy waste,” said Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund. “At a time when families are struggling with high energy bills, oil and gas operations have leaked, vented or flared more than $7 billion worth of gas since the Trump administration stopped enforcing methane standards—more than enough to fuel every home in Texas, California and Pennsylvania for a year or to fill more than 600 LNG tankers. Many major oil and gas companies have already committed to dramatically reducing methane emissions. Weakening protections that prevent this waste would give a free pass to operators unwilling to adopt proven practices at the expense of the American people. EPA should be fighting this waste, not making it easier.”

Even as EPA moves to weaken federal methane protections, new polling released today conducted by Global Strategy Group on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund finds broad, bipartisan support for strong methane rules among likely 2026 votes in five major oil and gas-producing states. Across California, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas, 72% support their state adopting strong rules to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, including regular inspections of low-producing wells. Support exceeds 70% in every state surveyed, including 74% in Texas, and across party lines, with 90% of Democrats, 70% of independents and 54% of Republicans supporting these protections.