Energy Exchange

Colorado again leads the way with methane verification protocol

By EDF Blogs / Published: May 29, 2024

Developing more accurate emissions inventories with real-world measurement data of oil and gas climate pollution is key to verifying our progress toward addressing climate change.

Earlier this month, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division achieved a major breakthrough to do just that when it finalized its Greenhouse Gas Intensity Verification Protocol, marking the first time a government agency has created a comprehensive framework for measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions at oil and gas production sites.

Also posted in Colorado / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

International, national oil & gas producers bound tightly by market pressure, new methane commitments

By EDF Blogs / Published: March 19, 2024

By Andrew Baxter

“Very soon nobody is going to be able to hide from methane leakage,” Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said back in 2019 . Now, the convergence of new satellites, new climate commitments and new market demands means that day is here. Some companies have been girding for it; others are lagging. Either way, they all have work to do.

Posted in Methane regulatons / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Why Texas’ attempt to delay commonsense methane protections will only shoot itself – and the US oil and gas industry – in the foot.

By EDF Blogs / Published: February 27, 2024

By Elizabeth Lieberknecht

Texas’ primary oil and gas regulator, the Texas Railroad Commission, took the unfortunate — though not surprising — step last month of requesting legal action against EPA’s recently finalized commonsense methane rules. This is unfortunate because, once implemented, these rules will protect public health, limit climate change and energy waste. It is not surprising because the RRC (Texas’ oddly named oil and gas regulatory agency) has shown little interest in trying to rein in Texas’ massive problem with oil and gas methane pollution. Texas emits more oil and gas methane pollution than any other state. Despite repeated calls for more oversight from the state agency, the RRC continues to regularly approve permits to flare natural gas, a leading cause of methane pollution.

Also posted in Air Quality, Texas / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

EPA advances methane waste charge to help cut oil and gas pollution

By Edwin LaMair and Grace Smith / Published: January 25, 2024

Last week, EPA proposed details for how it will administer Congress’s methane waste emissions charge for excessive oil and gas pollution, passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program in 2022.

Also posted in Flaring, Methane / Authors: elamair, gsmith / Comments are closed

Unpacking EPA’s final methane protections

By Edwin LaMair, Rosalie Winn and Grace Smith / Published: December 12, 2023

Last week, EPA Administrator Regan announced final standards to cut methane and harmful local air pollution from both new and existing facilities in the oil and gas industry.

Diverse stakeholders ranging from major oil-producing states like New Mexico to tribal air agencies to oil and gas producers and methane mitigation companies have all voiced support for the final standards.

Also posted in Air Quality / Authors: elamair, rwinn, gsmith / Comments are closed

Three ways EPA’s upcoming methane regulations will help slow climate change and protect public health

By Jon Goldstein / Published: November 13, 2023

In a move that will protect communities across the country, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon finalize new rules to reduce methane and other toxic, smog-forming pollution from the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that’s fueling much of the climate crisis due to the excessive warming it creates during its lifetime in the atmosphere. Methane makes up about 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., but it’s responsible for over 25% of current warming.

Also posted in Air Quality / Authors: jgoldstein / Comments are closed