Democrats' Draconian Methane Plans

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Significant growth in domestic natural gas production over the last several years has contributed to low energy costs and helped support thousands of jobs.
• The EPA is seeking to regulate methane emissions from domestic oil and gas production, while Democrats in Congress are pushing a methane fee as part of their reckless tax and spending spree. These policies will drive up prices and reduce supply.
• Natural gas generated 40% of Americans’ electricity in 2020, and almost half of all homes use it as their main source for heat. While production has increased significantly, methane emissions have dropped.

Democrats are pursuing an all-out attack on American oil and gas producers through overregulation and increased business costs. The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with proposals to inflict onerous regulations on energy producers who have already cut emissions while expanding production. Democrats in Congress are pitching a methane fee to punish American businesses and households. Americans are facing higher energy costs and record inflation, and the left’s plans will have them paying even more.

Natural Gas Is Vital to Turn on the Lights and Heat Homes

The importance Of natural gas

America’s oil and gas industry supports nearly 10 million jobs, and plays a significant role in the United States’ energy portfolio, providing reliable, affordable, and secure power. It has provided a cleaner alternative to other fuels, contributing to a 14% decline in U.S. carbon emissions, from 2005 to 2019.

Natural gas generated 40% of electricity in the United States in 2020, more than any other fuel. Last winter, 47% of all homes relied on natural gas as their main source of heat. Families have had lower energy costs because of increased domestic natural gas production. Increased production also helped the United States recapture our status as a net energy exporter and reduced our reliance on other countries for supplies.

Democrats’ punitive Playbook

Last November, the Biden administration proposed strict methane standards for oil and gas producers. Under its 2021 proposed rules, EPA will significantly expand the scope of regulated operations to include existing sources, as well as mandate a monitoring program. When EPA released the proposed regulations, the agency announced it was already planning to issue a “supplemental” proposal and further tighten the standards. The administration is pushing this prescriptive approach despite steps already taken by the industry to cut emissions from 1990 to 2019. While natural gas and oil production significantly increased, methane emissions from natural gas systems dropped 15.7%.

EPA’s aggressive rulemaking is just the latest example of the Biden administration’s fight to decimate American energy. As part of their reckless tax and spending spree, Democrats spent much of 2021 crafting a disastrous methane fee that would have caused higher electricity and heating bills for families. Last fall, the House of Representatives passed legislation to impose a methane fee on producers, processors, and distributors of petroleum and natural gas products – a roundabout natural gas tax. Industry groups have raised concerns that such a methane fee would imperil thousands of jobs.

The left also has acknowledged its hopes of doing away with agriculture-related emissions as part of the radical Green New Deal. Liberal environmental groups have even petitioned EPA to regulate methane emissions from hog and dairy operations under the Clean Air Act.

Democrats continue to push their onerous regulatory agenda despite the pain it would cause American families. In early January, 41 congressional Democrats wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission raising concerns with high energy prices and calling on the commission to promote “energy justice” and shield customers. It’s true that Americans are seeing higher energy prices this winter, but nothing in the Democrats’ agenda would help with the price spikes. They oppose pipeline projects that could actually bolster access to affordable domestic energy supplies and thus reduce prices. The left’s plan for what to do when its regulatory onslaught causes American energy prices to rise is to provide massive government payments to help mask the economic damage it caused. 

If Democrats are serious about helping American families facing high energy bills, they should abandon their attacks on domestic energy producers and embrace reliable, affordable, and secure sources of energy.