The House on Wednesday voted to overturn Biden-era rules that implement programs that charge oil and gas companies for excess methane emissions.
The vote was 220-206-1.
Democrats Henry Quellal (Texas), Jared Golden (Mayne), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Adam Gray (Calif.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (Michigan) and Marie Grusenkamp Perez (Washington) voted in favor of almost all Lepolikans.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against it. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-ohio) has now voted.
The Senate is expected soon I'll make a similar vote And the resolution is likely to pass there as well, and will eventually be signed by President Trump.
However, overturning the rules does not necessarily eliminate programs written in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Once completely overturned, additional laws appear to be needed, and Republicans are expected to try to repeal it as part of a broader legislative package.
Methane is a contaminant that warms the planet 28 times more powerful As carbon dioxide. Oil and gas production is one of the main sources of methane emissions as methane, a major component of natural gas, can be released or burned in the process.
Under the 2022 law, companies that emit methane at levels equivalent to 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year must pay for excessive emissions.
The law also provides grants to help businesses install technology to reduce emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the program will prevent 1.2 million tonnes of methane from entering the atmosphere. The climate corresponds to nearly 8 million gas-powered vehicles being consumed from the road for a year.
Republicans, meanwhile, characterize it as a “tax” on gas production.
“Today, House Republicans have rewind the disastrous natural gas tax imposed by Democrats. This overreach has raised energy prices, damaged domestic natural gas production, and increased dependence on foreign energy, without bringing so-called environmental benefits,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in writing.
a Union Of more than 70 environmental groups, he urged Congress to vote against the measure, claiming that methane would leak waste gas that could otherwise be used as fuel.
“Methane polluter fees are an important tool to reduce natural gas waste, limit community pollution, and advance America as a global leader in methane,” they write.
