November 15, 2024 (Augusta, ME) — A new rule announced this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at slashing harmful methane pollution will protect clean air and safeguard human health.
As part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the U.S. Congress adopted the methane waste emission charge as part of the Clean Air Act aimed at reducing excess methane emissions that result from oil and gas production.
Methane is a climate super-pollutant, a potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for approximately one-third of the global warming we are experiencing today, according to the EPA. The rule is expected to reduce pollution that is equivalent to taking nearly 8 million gas-powered cars off the road for a year — with cumulative climate benefits of up to $2 billion.
“Polluters should never be given a free pass to harm our health and dirty our air. This new rule is an example of the essential role the U.S. EPA plays in developing practical solutions for addressing the climate crisis, protecting the air we breathe, and safeguarding the health of our families,” said Anya Fetcher, Federal Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
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