"WASHINGTON -- The White House announced on Wednesday that it is setting new goals for reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, aiming to cut those releases by 40 to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.
While methane emissions have dropped in recent decades, Dan Utech, the special assistant to the president for energy and climate change, said in a call with reporters Wednesday morning that the expansion of oil and gas development in the U.S. has put those emissions on track to rise 25 percent by 2025 without new controls. The administration says the methane rules are key to meeting the overall emission reduction targets that President Barack Obama has called for.
'The U.S. is now the largest oil and gas producer in the world, providing an abundant source of energy to power and heat American homes and businesses,' said Utech. 'At the same time, methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas with 25 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide.'"
Kate Sheppard reports for the Huffington Post January 14, 2015.
SEE ALSO:
"White House To Curb Methane Emissions From Oil, Gas Production" (Reuters)
"Activists Say Obama Action on Methane Emissions 'Misses 90% of Pollution'" (Guardian)
"Republicans Blast Obama’S Methane Plan" (The Hill)
"Obama's Crackdown on Methane Emissions Is a Really Big Deal" (Mother Jones)
"Obama’s Proposed Methane Emissions Cuts Ignore Existing Sources" (Environment News Service)
"Obama Targets Methane. What Is It? Why Does It Matter?" (Christian Science Monitor)
"New EPA Guidelines Limit Methane Release From Drilling" (NPR)
"Oil Industry Says Methane Plan Unneeded" (Houston Chronicle)
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