US looks to slash methane emissions from oil and gas sector
Two US agencies will fund efforts to “monitor and reduce” methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
PHOTO: The US Department of Energy (DOE) headquarter building in Washington DC, US. Getty Images
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) jointly said that “Financial and technical assistance will support methane emissions leak reductions and monitoring in cooperation with states.”
The EPA and DOE will provide up to $350 million in funding to eligible US states to help them identify and reduce methane emissions from low-producing conventional wells.
They say this inter-agency agreement will allow them to “reduce inefficiencies of US oil and gas operations, create new jobs in energy communities, and realize near-term emission reductions."
“A separate financial assistance program for Tribal governments is also expected to be offered,” the agencies said.
The Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which is part of the US Inflation Reduction Act, previously provided $1.55 billion in funding to improve methane monitoring and reduce methane and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the oil and gas sector. The additional $350 million funding announced by the EPA now is aimed at reducing GHG and non-GHG emissions such as volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.
Methane is a potent GHG with about 27-30 times higher global warming potential than the often more discussed CO2. And minimising methane slip can help to not just reduce concentrations of methane in the atmosphere, but also retain more methane for power generation in the US, the EPA said.
“The amount of methane emitted from oil and gas operations is enough to fuel millions of homes a year and is a major driver of the climate crisis,” said Joe Goffman, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “These programs will help minimize that waste, a benefit for nearby communities and businesses alike.”
By Aparupa Mazumder
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