The Biden administration issued new rules Saturday expected to slash methane emissions created in the fossil fuel sector. |
In addition to governing emissions from new oil and gas wells, the rule will for the first time also affect emissions from existing wells.
Methane, which comprises about a quarter of the causes of planetary warming, is less common and remains in the atmosphere for less time than carbon dioxide.
The EPA rule would deliver the methane emissions cuts through policies aimed at limiting leaks, such as requiring monitoring and repairs.
The final rule also adds an additional requirement for new wells — to phase out the routine burning off of excess gas that’s extracted alongside oil. The practice, known as flaring, occurs when companies opt to burn off gas that comes alongside oil production instead of capturing it for use. Read more at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
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