Trump to scrap Biden methane rules, saving $45 billion in energy costs

President Donald Trump will announce an EPA proposal on Tuesday evening that removes Biden-era regulations limiting methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. A Trump EPA official briefed on the announcement told the Washington Free Beacon the move is projected to save Americans $45 billion in energy costs.

The proposal would ease standards for smaller low-producing wells and rescind the Super Emitter Program, which uses third parties to detect large methane releases. The agency would also remove a requirement eliminating some routine flaring of natural gas.

“From the largest producers to families with a single well on their land that provides for their retirement and income, what we learned was that the Biden regulations were unworkable and were holding back American energy dominance without delivering real, tangible environmental benefits.”

The Free Beacon reports the action could lead to an extra 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas produced nationwide. Greater Kashmir says Trump mentioned saving consumers and energy producers USD 45 billion and unlocking 210 million barrels of oil during a campaign rally in Texas.

Greater Kashmir adds that the unlocked oil equals about 10 days of US petroleum consumption. The Free Beacon puts the gas figure at 15 days of US natural gas consumption and notes oil fuels planes, trucks, and cars while gas is the largest source of electricity generation.

Methane is released during the flaring of natural gas at drilling operations lacking expensive capture technology. Scientists estimate methane is responsible for about a third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental groups criticized the rollback, saying it lets companies continue polluting with gas that could be captured and provide energy to millions of households. Max Lopez, an Environmental Law & Policy Center attorney, said it will impose a heavier pollution burden on front-line communities.