Donald Trump plans rollback of federal methane limits on energy producers

President Donald Trump has announced that his administration intends to repeal methane emission standards for the oil and gas sector that were finalized under President Joe Biden in 2024. Speaking at a campaign rally in Texas, Trump said the rollback was intended to protect energy producers and consumers from costly and excessive requirements.

The planned changes, previewed earlier in the month by the Environmental Protection Agency, focus on easing leak restrictions for lower-production oil wells, commonly known as stripper wells. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argued that energy suppliers need relief from regulatory burdens so that everyday Americans can afford heating and transportation fuel.

Stripper wells generate only about 7% to 8% of domestic natural gas production, yet scientific research indicates they may be responsible for roughly half of the country's methane leaks. The National Stripper Well Association had pushed for the changes, warning that compliance costs threatened to push aging and marginally profitable sites out of business.

In addition to relaxing standards on marginal wells, the EPA intends to dismantle the Super Emitter Program. That initiative was designed to let third-party organizations track and flag significant emissions using satellites and thermal imaging equipment, though the Trump administration had previously halted its implementation.

Public health advocates and environmental organizations strongly condemned the decision. Liz Scott, a senior director of national advocacy at the American Lung Association, pointed out that methane leaks release harmful volatile organic compounds that directly impact the health of nearby residents. David Doniger, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticized the waste of saleable natural gas through leaks and indicated that environmental groups would challenge the final rule in court.

Methane is the primary constituent of natural gas and is estimated to drive about a third of modern global warming. While it dissipates faster than carbon dioxide, scientists estimate it traps roughly 80 times more heat over a 20-year span, making leak reductions a central target for previous climate policies.

The policy shift forms part of a wider deregulatory campaign by the administration targeting environmental standards. The EPA has already removed vehicle emission requirements and moved to scale back restrictions on power plant emissions. Any final rule dismantling the methane measures must first undergo a formal public comment period before being enacted.