Schatz Commends Administration’s New Efforts To Cut Methane Emissions

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) applauded the Obama Administration’s efforts to act on climate change and limit methane pollution from oil and natural gas production.

“Today's announcement that EPA is planning to reduce methane emissions from existing sources in the oil and gas sector is key to meeting our commitment to cut carbon emissions and critical to our fight against climate change,” said Senator Schatz.  “These standards will give us the opportunity to improve public health, encourage other countries to curb methane emissions, and leave a healthier planet for our kids.”

In January, Senator Schatz led a group of 21 senators in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to expand its regulation of methane emissions. As a part of the president’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA has begun to address industrial sources of methane, but only new sources are currently being addressed, leaving old, leaking equipment free to pollute.

Methane is the primary component of natural gas, and when methane leaks before natural gas is combusted, it is significantly worse for the climate and negatively impacts air quality. Methane’s effect on climate change is up to 34 times greater than that of CO2.

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