The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a Resolution to invalidate the Trump administrations 2020 Methane Rescission Rule, a move that will reinstate two key Obama-era methane-emission rules and reestablish stricter regulations on the nations oil and gas industry.
The resolution, which was introduced under the Congressional Review Act by two Democratic leaders, Diana DeGette, of Colorado, and Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, rescinds a rule the Trump administration put in place on Nov. 16, 2020, that lowered limits of methane coming from their oil and natural gas operations.
” The purpose of the legislation is very simple: It is to reduce our methane emissions and to help stave off the worst effects of the climate crisis before its too late,” DeGette said, at Fridays hearing. ” Methane, as we all know, is the most potent greenhouse gas on the planet. And when its released into our atmosphere, it becomes a leading contributor to global warming.
DeGette said if the US is serious about combating a climate crisis, the Legislature must take steps now to restrict the amount of methane coming from oil and gas operations.
DeGette said the new law could reduce the nations overall methane emissions by 1.6 million tons.
The resolution, which is expected to be signed into law by Pres. Joe Biden, passed with a vote of 229-191 by mostly Democratic members of the house, along with three Republicans.
North State Rep. Doug LaMalfa voted against the Resolution, stating the previous administrations 2020 final rules didnt actually reduce methane emissions, but only made it simpler and less burdensome for the oil and natural gas industry to comply with New Source Performance Standards under the Clean Air Act, which would have saved fuel and utility consumers about $750 million to $850 million from 2021 to 2030.
” We are already facing a huge increase in inflation because of President Bidens policies,” LaMalfa said in a statement. ” Now American families will pay even more at the gas pump and more on their utility bills because of this legislation. Rescinding this rule will not prevent emissions – those are already regulated under the Clean Air Act – instead it reestablishes duplicative and overly burdensome bureaucratic regulations that will lead to job losses and higher energy prices for Americans. The Biden Administration is continuing its war on American energy independence which puts our national security at risk and will make us dependent on energy produced in foreign countries that lack stringent environmental protections, resulting in making our world more polluted.
According to DeGette, nearly one-third of all methane emissions in the U.S. comes from the production of oil and natural gas. –