House, Senate Pass Resolutions Promoting Methane Pollution and Waste of American Energy

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — This week Congressional Review Act resolutions seeking to repeal a recent rule implementing the methane polluter fee passed the House and Senate. The methane polluter fee, part of the Methane Emission Reduction Program, is a commonsense fee on excessive emissions and an important safeguard from dangerous methane waste and pollution from the oil and gas industry. The fee is designed to cut excessive waste, secure America’s energy and create jobs. It is designed to mimic the pollution reduction targets oil and gas leaders set for themselves. 

In the U.S. alone, enough natural gas is wasted from leaks, venting and flaring every year to meet the annual needs of 14 million households. The Congressional Budget Office found that these resolutions will cost taxpayers $7.5 billion and create an equal windfall for the oil and gas industry. 

“This repeal only benefits those oil and gas companies that have failed to meet the industry’s own pollution reduction targets. Methane leaks from the oil and gas industry are a huge waste of valuable energy resources. The methane polluter fee is a well-designed, practical, cost-effective solution to reduce wasted natural gas. These attacks on the methane polluter fee will create uncertainty for oil and gas producers, waste America’s natural resources and harm Americans’ health and the economy.”