The Trump administration is set to announce a rollback of federal rules designed to limit methane emissions from oil and gas companies. President Donald Trump is expected to outline the policy changes during a campaign rally in Texas, marking one of the administration's most significant rollbacks of climate change regulations to date.
The targeted regulations include requirements established during the Biden administration that forced energy companies to monitor operations and prevent methane leaks. Under the new Environmental Protection Agency plan, requirements will be relaxed for hundreds of thousands of low-producing, or marginal, wells near the end of their lifespans. While these marginal wells account for about 7% of U.S. oil and gas production, they generate roughly half of the industry's methane emissions.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps significantly more heat in the short term than carbon dioxide and is a major contributor to global temperature rises. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin previewed the policy adjustments earlier, noting that the changes are estimated to save the oil and gas industry $45 billion through 2050 and aim to bolster domestic energy production. While smaller independent producers and some major donors have advocated for the relief due to compliance costs, environmental groups and several larger energy companies have opposed the rollbacks, warning of increased pollution and climate impacts.
