Chairman Beyer Introduces Bill to Address Methane Super-Emitters in Oil and Gas Operations

Press Release

Today, the Methane Super-Emitter Strategy Act of 2022 was introduced to the House of Representatives. The bill addresses a finding of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's investigation into oil and gas sector methane leaks and June 8, 2022 hearing on the same topic, which determined that oil and gas companies are failing to address super-emitting leaks. These leaks are known as a primary driver of methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA) of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics is the lead sponsor of the bill, along with Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) as co-leads.

"Methane is an insidious and potent greenhouse gas that scientists say is responsible for approximately 30 percent of global warming since the Industrial Revolution," said Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA). "Large, 'super-emitting' leaks from oil and gas operations can release enormous levels of methane into the atmosphere, and very quickly. We must approach the growing threat of methane emissions with every tool we have. This bill will build a collaborative approach and leverage the capabilities of our premiere federal science agencies to create a strong strategy to better observe and detect these dangerous super-emitters. We cannot address what we cannot measure, and this bill will help to solve that. The Act's research strategy will give us a path forward on addressing super-emitter contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and the climate crisis."

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