Ceres issued a statement opposing new legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that seeks to repeal provisions of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), established under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Reducing methane pollution is the fastest and most cost-effective way to curb global warming, and MERP has already provided the U.S. oil and gas industry with $1.36 billion in financial and technical assistance to cut emissions.
The proposed legislation specifically targets the waste emissions charge, which imposes fees on excessive methane pollution from producers failing to meet industry reduction targets. U.S. oil and gas operations emit over 6 million tons of methane annually, leading to $1 billion in lost commercial value and $10 billion in economic and human health costs. Acknowledging these impacts, investors managing $2 trillion in assets urged states last year to meet or exceed EPA methane reduction standards. “The Methane Emissions Reduction Program benefits and strengthens the U.S. energy industry. By reducing waste, bringing more gas to the marketplace, and maintaining access to global markets that are seeking transparency on methane pollution, the program increases competitiveness for U.S. oil and gas producers,” said Andrew Logan, senior director, Ceres. “If U.S. companies want to be competitive in these markets, they need to show they are controlling highly potent methane pollution. We encourage members of Congress to oppose the Congressional Review Act resolutions introduced yesterday.”
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