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The US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy have announced approximately $850 million in funding for 43 projects aimed at reducing, monitoring, measuring, and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. This funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which has already seen more than 100 actions taken to reduce methane emissions, including an EPA rule expected to reduce emissions by 80% from 2024 to 2038. The funded projects, which include contributions from a Tribal consortium, universities, and private companies, will use new and existing technologies to mitigate methane emissions, improve operational efficiencies, and provide transparent data to communities.
Funding from Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Reduces Methane Pollution
December 20, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy today announced approximately $850 million in funding for 43 projects aiming to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. This forms part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and follows over 100 actions taken since 2023, including an EPA rule anticipated to decrease methane emissions by 80% between 2024 to 2038.
This investment encourages companies to conserve energy, improve operational efficiencies, and reduce methane emissions.
“Today, we’re building on strong standards and progress to decrease methane pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These investments will support small businesses and drive the deployment of technologies to reduce harmful pollution and tackle the climate crisis, while creating good-paying jobs.”
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm stated, “This investment made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act is helping energy communities and deliver health and environmental benefits across the country. It will support small operators’ ability to upgrade old equipment, reducing emissions and improving their supply chains for cleaner fuel sources.”
Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, John Podesta, added, “Today’s awards will reduce local pollution while delivering for our workers, our communities, and our planet.”
Supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, the chosen projects are a significant step in addressing climate change and improving air quality. These initiatives will help reduce methane emissions via innovative technologies, creating partnerships to improve emissions measurement and offering transparent data.
The selected projects include efforts to help small operators reduce emissions, accelerate the deployment of early commercial technology solutions, improve community access to emissions data, enhance detection measures, and provide financial and technical assistance as part of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Learn more about these selected projects.
These selections build on the $350 million in grant funding announced in December 2023 to support industry efforts to reduce emissions at low-producing wells, monitor emissions, and conduct environmental restoration. These investments form a crucial part of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
About the Methane Emissions Reduction Program
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to approximately a third of today’s global warming. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the U.S. The Methane Emissions Reduction Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, was designed to address wasteful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. This program works with the recently finalized Waste Emissions Charge and Clean Air Act standards and advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
The actions of DOE and EPA will advance the adoption of cost-effective technologies, reduce wasteful practices, and yield significant economic, health, and environmental benefits. Learn more about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program on the EPA website, or DOE website.
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