Trump's methane rollback could backfire
The rollback is really more of a favor for small producers, and may actually hand more regulatory sway to Europe.
Former US President Donald Trump's proposal to cancel Biden-era restrictions on methane emissions from oil and gas wells could have unintended consequences, according to environmental experts. The move, which Trump touted during a Texas campaign event, is primarily aimed at small producers and could potentially strengthen Europe's regulatory influence on the US energy market.
Despite the EPA's own analysis indicating the rollback will only marginally reduce gasoline prices, the administration argues it's a necessary solution to address the country's energy price issues. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the primary component of natural gas, the industry's main product, and its leakage or burning off has been considered an unavoidable waste.
With global demand for gas rising, and countries like Europe tightening emissions regulations, the rollback could create market access challenges for US gas, already facing increased scrutiny from Brussels. While the US oil industry has previously supported some form of methane regulation, the new rules could erode the industry's competitive edge against smaller producers less concerned with environmental reputations and global markets.
The bill's future remains uncertain, with Democrats divided on whether to pursue it ahead of the midterms or wait for post-election concessions.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
