Today, the Environmental Protection Agency opened the rulemaking for its Waste Emissions Charge regulation, designed to achieve important methane pollution reductions from the oil and gas industry as quickly as possible. The charge is a component of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program established through the Inflation Reduction Act. The announcement will now kick off a 60-day comment period.
Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a three-year extension of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s certificate for their Southgate extension.
ALBANY, NY -- Today, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) declined to approve the 20-year long-term gas plan from National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation of Western New York (NFG), requiring a number of modifications including ending incentives for gas expansion, proposing a gas demand response program, and developing pilot projects to compare cold-climate air-source heat pumps and hybrid heating systems. However, the order failed to rule on the appropriateness of numerous aspects of NFG’s plan including its limited contribution to the emission reductions required by New York’s climate law. The PSC also failed to rule on the outsized role of alternative fuels such as “renewable” natural gas and hydrogen in NFG’s plan and how to properly account for the emissions of these fuels.
***Sierra Club Staff are on the ground in Dubai.***
***Contact Jonathon Berman for interviews or specific comments on COP28 proceedings***
No state produces more oil and gas than Texas, which released more than 564 billion cubic feet of methane in 2019 alone. Thus, the federal rules could have more impact on Texas than any other state.
Washington, DC -- Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry, a major win for climate and public health. These safeguards strengthen standards for new equipment and also include the first-ever standards for existing equipment, which has been a major priority for the Sierra Club.
Washington, DC - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final, critical Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry, a major win for climate and public health. These safeguards—which include the first-ever standards for existing equipment while also strengthening standards for new equipment—have been a major priority for Sierra Club and its allies, and are the culmination of years of advocacy by and on behalf of our members, families, and communities.
HARTFORD, CT. – This week, a coalition of more than 90 climate and environmental justice groups released a letter to the governors of impacted states opposing Project Maple, a fracked-gas proposal that severely threatens decarbonization efforts across the Northeastern United States.
More than 70 climate, health and consumer organizations have called for utilities across the nation to leave the American Gas Association (AGA) over their efforts to block climate policies and proliferate disinformation about the health risks of gas stove pollution. AGA receives millions in annual dues from utilities across the country, primarily paid for through customer bills.
Georgia Power filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) for permission to build 30% more methane gas and oil beyond what the utility originally projected in last year’s integrated resource plan (IRP).
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, PennFuture, the Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, Protect Penn-Trafford, and Earthworks filed a joint lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including Governor Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly, challenging the constitutionality of a law that prevents the Commonwealth from protecting communities from the harm caused by abandoned methane wells.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Groups involved in the North Carolina Utilities Commission proceeding to develop a new state plan for reducing heat-trapping carbon pollution from electricity generation—known as the Carbon Plan—reacted to a proposed plan by Duke Energy.