Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to cut methane and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. EPA estimates the rule will yield net climate benefits of $120 to $150 million in 2025:
“The standards proposed by EPA today will help cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect both public health and the environment. Methane pollution is 25 times more damaging to our climate than carbon dioxide, and, in the United States alone, nearly 1/3 of these emissions come from the oil and gas sector. This proposal puts in place meaningful and commonsense requirements for methane and VOC emissions in order to protect our planet and hold polluters accountable. It also reflects the agency’s effort to support safe, efficient, and responsible development of our energy resources. Moreover, these proposed rules are cost-effective and based on best practices already used by the oil and gas industry.
“We know that climate change is the direct result of our continued emissions of greenhouse gases. President Obama has already called for cutting emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as part of the Climate Action Plan. This proposal is another important step forward in our effort to meet that goal and seriously combat man-made climate change."
