Senators introduce resolution to repeal Biden methane fees rule
The U.S. Senate Republicans introduced a resolution on Tuesday to overturn Biden's administration's proposed methane emission fee, which was one of the last measures taken by the former Environmental Protection Agency to force oil and gas companies to reduce emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas.
The resolution, introduced by Republican Senators John Kennedy from Louisiana and John Hoeven from North Dakota under Congressional Review Act(CRA), allows Congress to overturn new federal rules by a simple majority. It would reverse the escalating charges set by the agency that they have called a "tax".
The Americans want us to "drill baby drill" to reduce their energy costs. Kennedy said that to regain American energy dominance we must reverse the anti-energy policies, and taxes, which the Biden Administration imposed on us.
The 2022 Inflation Act mandated the methane tax. It directed the EPA that it would charge a fee for methane emissions from facilities emitting more than 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
The most common greenhouse gas is methane, which tends to leak undetected into the atmosphere from drilling sites, gas pipes and other oil and natural gas.
The fee for methane emissions began at $900 in 2024 and increased to $1200 in 2025. It then rose to $1500 in 2026.
Last year, the EPA finalized standards for reporting and measuring methane emissions in the oil and natural gas industry. This was a move that received less resistance from oil companies.
In his first few days as president, Donald Trump issued executive orders aimed at setting up an "energy dominance agenda". These directed agencies to accelerate the permitting of energy projects while removing environmental protections deemed burdensome by his administration.
The order did mention a repeal for methane regulations, but it did order that the EPA Administrator review the so-called "endangerment finding" for greenhouse gases. This is a scientific determination which underpins the legal basis of EPA climate regulation. (Reporting and Editing by Marguerita Chy)
(source: Reuters)
