Plan to cut methane emissions brings quick rebuke from oil industry

The Obama administration's plan to slash methane emissions by imposing sweeping new rules on the oil and gas industry invites a fight with the sector and its allies on Capitol Hill. But industry leaders insist the decline in emissions _ alongside soaring production _ shows the administration is advancing regulations in search of a problem. "Emissions will continue to fall as operators innovate and find new ways to capture and deliver more methane to consumers, and existing EPA and state regulations are working," said Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute. "Another layer of burdensome requirements could actually slow down industry progress to reduce methane emissions." Marty Durbin, president of America's Natural Gas Alliance, said the White House is missing the mark by focusing on regulation instead of voluntary programs that would capitalize on the industry's economic interest in capturing and selling now-leaking methane. "We are disappointed the administration is choosing to take a regulatory approach that will take years to implement, rather than a cooperative approach with the industry that we believe will ultimately result in greater emissions reductions in a shorter timeframe," Durbin said in a statement. Speaking in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance said he is also disappointed the emphasis is on regulation. "The industry is already doing a lot of things to voluntarily deal with the methane emissions problem," he said...more