Trump Administration Moves to Weaken Methane Leak Rules, Handing Win to Oil and Gas Industry

The Trump administration is expected to announce plans today to roll back regulations that require oil and gas companies to monitor and fix methane leaks from wells, pipelines, and storage facilities. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas with up to 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over 20 years, and it also contributes to smog. The move is the latest in a series of deregulatory actions benefiting the fossil fuel industry. Environmental groups warn that weakening these standards will lead to more methane escaping into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change and harming public health. Industry groups have argued the rules are burdensome and costly. The rollback could face legal challenges from states and environmental organizations. As the planet continues to warm, the decision underscores the ongoing battle over the future of U.S. energy policy and its global climate impact.