Methane is a greenhouse gas, emitted both by natural sources and from human activity. Methane is also the largest component of natural gas, the product that companies sell. Operators have every incentive to capture and sell as much of this product as possible to American consumers, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. And independent oil and natural gas producers have made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint by cutting emissions without raising energy costs.
In fact, the United States leads the world in the reduction of carbon emissions, even as the production of U.S. oil and natural gas continues to increase. Our success in lowering carbon emissions in the United States is not because of additional regulations, but because of the increased use of clean-burning natural gas.
IPAA recognizes the need for environmentally sound, cost-effective regulations to match industry emissions. Industry seeks to find a regulatory pathway designed for the sources it regulates. Big new oil and natural gas wells and low producing older wells have differing emissions profiles. Our members are making constant improvements to the technology being used to reduce, measure and report on emissions.
You can find IPAA’s methane-related comments in the ‘Correspondence’ section on this page.
Methane Emissions Continue to Decline Across U.S. Oil & Gas Basins
IPAA endorses The Environmental Partnership, a voluntary program comprised of companies in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry committed to continuously improving the industry’s environmental performance. It includes companies of all sizes, including many of the country’s major oil and natural gas producers. Learn more about the program at www.theenvironmentalpartnership.org.
With the opening of the 119th Congress, potential legislative actions could repeal or modify the Methane Tax through the Congressional Review Act (CRA) process.
Well structured, cost effective regulations are essential to manage emissions while assuring that American oil and natural gas producers can provide the energy demanded by the U.S. and world economies.
Dear Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune: We, the undersigned, congratulate you on the recent passage of H.J. Res 35, expressing Congress’s disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemaking on the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC). Passage of this Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, signed......
04 April, 2025IPAA Appreciates Quick Action by President on Hoeven and Pfluger Legislation WASHINGTON – Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) President & CEO Jeff Eshelman issued the following statement today on President Donald Trump signing H.J.Res.35 which through the Congressional Review Act process disapproves of the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s......
15 March, 2025Producers Petitioned for Reconsideration of OOOOb and c and Green House Gas Reporting Program WASHINGTON – Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) President & CEO Jeff Eshelman issued the following statement on EPA’s announcement today of actions to advance President Trump’s Day One executive orders on energy: “IPAA commends......
12 March, 2025WASHINGTON – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) issued the following statement following the Senate passage of H.J.Res.35 which through the Congressional Review Act process disapproves of the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) methane emissions fee on oil and natural gas facilities which will lead to higher......
27 February, 2025WASHINGTON – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) issued the following statement following the House passage of Congressman August Pfluger’s H.J. Res. 35 which through the Congressional Review Act process disapproves of the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) methane emissions fee on oil and natural gas facilities......
26 February, 2025WASHINGTON – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) issued the following statement on bicameral Congressional Review Act legislation introduced by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX-11) to block implementation of the Biden Administration’s methane tax. IPAA President & CEO Jeff Eshelman: “The Independent Petroleum Association......
04 February, 2025
