Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the availability of $850 million in federal funding for projects aimed at monitoring, measuring, quantifying, and reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Oil and natural gas facilities are identified as the largest industrial source of methane, a potent climate pollutant responsible for about one-third of current greenhouse gas-induced warming. The funding announcement builds on extensive actions taken by the Biden Administration to reduce methane pollution, including an EPA rule finalized in 2023 that aims to cut methane emissions from covered oil and gas facilities by 80%.
The funds, provided through the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in history—are intended to mitigate legacy air pollution, create jobs in the energy sector and disadvantaged communities, reduce waste and inefficiencies in U.S. oil and gas operations, and achieve near-term emissions reductions. The primary objectives include helping small operators reduce methane emissions using available technologies, accelerating repairs of methane leaks from low-producing wells, improving community access to empirical data on emissions, and enhancing regional-scale detection and measurement.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated: “Today, we’re building on strong standards and historic progress to cut methane pollution and protect communities across the country.” He emphasized that these investments would deploy advanced technologies to better understand methane emission sources.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm remarked: “As we continue to accelerate the nation’s clean energy transition, we are taking steps now to drastically reduce harmful emissions from America’s largest source of industrial methane – the oil and gas sector.”
Assistant to President Biden and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi highlighted that President Biden's leadership has enabled significant progress in cutting pollutants like methane while creating quality jobs: "President Biden’s historic investment agenda has enabled the U.S. to aggressively take actions needed to decarbonize every sector of the economy."
The competitive solicitation for this funding will allow a broad range of eligible entities—including industry groups, academia, non-governmental organizations, Tribes, state governments—to apply. Applicants must submit Community Benefits Plans demonstrating meaningful engagement with local communities.
The Methane Emissions Reduction Program underpins this effort with $1.36 billion allocated for financial and technical assistance aimed at improving methane monitoring across oil and gas operations.
This announcement follows previous allocations such as $350 million granted in December 2023 for states' voluntary emission reduction efforts at low-producing wells.
Further information about this funding opportunity can be accessed through official EPA channels or by contacting FedConnect.net for application queries.
