Trump announces proposal to loosen methane rules for oil and gas production

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a significant rollback of rules aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas producers. The announcement came during a rally in Lubbock, Texas, supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is facing a competitive US Senate race in November.

The regulations, previously established by President Joe Biden's Democratic administration, are being terminated by Trump to allegedly save consumers and energy producers $45 billion. This move was met with cheers from the audience. Trump added that the action would unlock substantial quantities of Texas natural gas, given the state's status as the nation's leading fossil-fuel producer.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statement, the cost savings from the termination are estimated at $45 billion. However, the EPA has not provided a detailed breakdown of these savings. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the importance of affordable energy for American households, stating that unnecessary burdens on energy producers hinder their ability to meet essential needs, such as heating homes and fueling vehicles during winter.

Methane, a primary component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for about a third of the global warming since pre-industrial times. Although methane has a shorter atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon dioxide, it is far more effective at trapping heat.

Critics argue that the changes effectively weaken methane standards, allowing oil and gas corporations to continue emitting dangerous levels of the gas. Julia Kane, a researcher from the oil and gas watchdog Fieldnotes, described the modifications as creating a "toothless methane standard" that fails to address the issue of methane leaks and flaring.

The US ranks as the world's largest emitter of methane from its oil and gas sector, according to the International Energy Agency. The new regulations include proposals to discontinue the Super Emitter Program, which enables EPA-approved observers to report major methane leaks exceeding 100kg (220 pounds) per hour. Additionally, the regulations aim to weaken rules against marginal wells that produce a low volume of oil-equivalent oil daily and relax requirements for the routine flaring of associated gas.

In regions like the Permian Basin, where oil is the primary product, the associated gas is often considered a byproduct, with its capture cost surpassing market value, leading operators to flare it instead.