The Senate on Wednesday took an important step forward on limiting emissions \u2014 and meeting its commitments to curb global warming \u2014 by voting to limit the unbridled release of methane molecules, often a byproduct of natural gas production, into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
The 52-42 vote reinstates the Oil and Natural Gas New Source Performance Standards, a handful of Obama-era regulations on methane emissions rolled back by former President Donald Trump in August 2020. The measure drew support from every Senate Democrat, as well as Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), who has opposed GOP efforts to deregulate methane emissions in the past; Lindsey Graham (R-SC); and Rob Portman (R-OH). The rule is expected to be taken up and passed by the House of Representatives in May.<\/p>\n
The standards alone won\u2019t be sufficient to meet President Joe Biden\u2019s pledge to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent compared with 2005 levels by 2030 \u2014 a goal meant to help keep global warming this century to 1.5 degrees Celsius \u2014 but it represents an important step toward meeting that commitment, given that methane is increasingly seen as a driver of climate change. The vote did not receive the support of 10 Republicans \u2014 the number Democrats need, barring any changes to the filibuster, to pass more sweeping climate legislation \u2014 but the fact three GOP senators signed on suggests Democrats have at least some hope of winning over Republicans on at least some climate-related issues.<\/p>\n
This rule change required only 51 \u201cyes\u201d votes, as Democrats took advantage of the Congressional Review Act, which allows legislators to undo laws passed by previous administrations in their lame-duck periods with a simple majority in each chamber of Congress. It\u2019s filibuster-proof. Trump\u2019s methane regulation, adopted by the EPA last summer, is the first rule for which Democrats are using the legislative procedure, which Republicans used 14 times in the first 16 weeks of Trump\u2019s presidency four years ago.<\/p>\n
When it comes to oil and natural gas pipelines, methane leaks are disconcertingly common and a major contributor to the methane currently in the atmosphere. Obama\u2019s regulations, passed in 2016, were meant to change that; they required energy companies to monitor pipelines for leaks and plug any they found. Bringing those regulations back is \u201cabsolutely common sense,\u201d Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a cosponsor of the resolution, said at a Tuesday press conference.<\/p>\n
Notably, some energy companies, including BP, Shell, and Exxon, are on record as being on board with increased methane regulation. Heinrich said that\u2019s because complying with its rules would actually save money: Pristine pipes and plugged-up leaks lead to higher yields and greater profits, enough that the costs of securing infrastructure are offset.<\/p>\n
And Dan Zimmerle, a senior research associate in the Energy Institute at Colorado State University, said companies also appreciate methane regulations because they lead to increased accountability, making methane \u2014 a major component of natural gas, which is often promoted as an alternative to coal \u2014 seem safer to consume than it actually is.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe largest threat to natural gas is not the cost of regulation, it\u2019s the reputation of natural gas,\u201d Zimmerle said.<\/p>\n
Republicans, with the noted exception of Collins, Graham, and Portman, have thus far opposed any attempts at energy regulation, including this one, arguing that there are other, less regulatory and more business-friendly ways to take care of the climate. But Democrats argue that regulation of greenhouse gases is critical \u2014 and that without it, the United States will fail to ward off the dangers of climate change.<\/p>\n
Why reducing methane emissions is critical, briefly explained<\/p>\n
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cast the Senate\u2019s move as \u201cone of the most important votes, not only that this Congress has cast but has been cast in the last decade, in terms of our fight against global warming.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a lot of ways, Schumer is right.<\/p>\n