Analyzing the Biden Administration’s $850 Million Plan to Address Oil and Gas Methane Emissions

The Biden administration has just announced a significant investment in the fight against methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. With $850 million in funding up for grabs, the EPA and the Department of Energy are now accepting applications to monitor and reduce methane emissions, in line with the Methane Emissions Reduction Program authorized by Congress.

The program aims to help communities, industry, and states comply with the recently finalized EPA methane rules and improve data collection on methane pollution. Applicants have until August 26th to apply for grants under one of three areas of interest (AOI). Projects under these areas will focus on reducing emissions at existing and marginal conventional wells, deploying methane emissions reduction solutions, and monitoring methane emissions across the oil and gas supply chain.

The first AOI includes projects to reduce emissions at marginal conventional wells, existing wells, and on Tribal lands. The awardees will work with the DOE to purchase and distribute mitigation technologies to operators, with a focus on smaller operators and tribes. This effort is crucial as smaller producing wells are responsible for a significant portion of wellsite methane emissions.

The second AOI will provide funding for projects that deploy new methane emissions reduction solutions, while the third AOI will focus on monitoring methane emissions across the oil and gas supply chain. These projects aim to create a comprehensive understanding of methane emissions from oil and gas sources across the U.S. and provide valuable data for mitigation efforts.

Overall, this investment in methane emissions reduction will not only help protect the environment and combat climate change but also create jobs and support disadvantaged communities. With applications due by August 26th, the Biden administration is taking proactive steps towards a cleaner and safer energy future for all Americans.