Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a new proposal to regulate methane emissions:

“While the Biden Administration continues its heavy handed, regulatory approach to combatting climate change, the real-world implications of President Biden’s new methane rule are simply a burden on America’s smaller domestic producers. From large natural gas producers down to our communities’ smallest, producers recognize and support voluntary efforts that reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. Through these efforts, industry has been steadily lowering methane emissions while increasing natural gas and oil production,” said Congressman Lucas, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. “Regretfully, the Administration’s new methane rule misses the mark by inserting unnecessary government mandates in an adapting field and failing to streamline the process for private companies to deploy innovative technologies. I hope the Biden Administration remains open-minded throughout the final rule making process and understands the importance of removing barriers rather than forcing rules using the baseball bat of regulation.”

“With a harsh winter predicted and energy prices at seven-year highs, President Biden and the EPA are proposing more regulations that could raise energy prices even more for families. We look forward to reviewing this proposal and continuing our oversight of the Administration to make sure any new regulations are justified and cost-effective, especially with the cost of gasoline and natural gas already surging this year. The price of natural gas is projected to cost the average household $746 this winter – a 30% increase. The average price for gasoline today is $3.39 – almost double the price from last year. These costs on families hit home and they are not sustainable. It should be a top concern of President Biden who is instead in Europe promoting his agenda to shut down American energy,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Republican Leader David B. McKinley (R-WV), and Energy Subcommittee Republican Leader Fred Upton (R-MI).

They continued, “We are concerned this new regulatory proposal, in addition to the natural gas tax proposed in the Democrats’ tax and spending spree, is another attack on American energy. America is leading the world in emissions reductions, and we have shown that innovation — not regulation — is the key to making energy cleaner and more affordable.”

Methane is a greenhouse gas, emitted both by natural sources and from human activity. Currently, the United States leads the world in the reduction of carbon emissions, including a 14% decline in oil and gas methane emissions, even as production of U.S. oil and natural gas continues to increase.

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