Shannon Van Hoesen, shannon.vanhoesen@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC - Last week, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) alongside U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R-TX-11) introduced companion bills to repeal the Waste Emission Charge of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, a critical program created by the Inflation Reduction Act that will help protect our families and communities from harmful oil and gas pollution. The charge is a commonsense measure to cut excessive methane emissions from corporations that are the largest polluters, secure American energy, and create jobs.
In response, Sierra Club released the following statements:
Sierra Club Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Mahyar Sorour: “The waste emission charge is an important tool to help curb dangerous methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. Responsible companies will never be subject to the charge: technology to monitor and stop leaks is readily available and easy to implement, so only wasteful, careless corporations will face a fee for excessive methane pollution. Reducing methane pollution is a win-win for communities, the climate, and corporations who can keep more gas in the pipes to deliver to customers. This bill is nothing but a handout to companies who want to pollute our air and waste our energy without oversight or consequence.”
Legislative and Conservation Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club Cyrus Reed: “No state produces more oil and gas than Texas, and no state releases more methane than Texas. It is literally making us sick and cooking our climate. The waste emissions charge is an important tool to encourage industry to do the right thing - they can either comply with regulations and best practices to control methane or pay the fee for excessive methane pollution. With no state regulations on methane in Texas, Texas communities from the Permian Basin in West Texas to the Eagle Ford in South Texas to the Barnett Shale in North Texas to the Haynesville in East Texas are depending on these commonsense policies to protect us from excessive pollution. Good actors have nothing to fear from the charge, but oil and gas companies are looking for a government handout from their buddies in the House and Senate at the expense of communities.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.