Equitrans supports return to tighter methane rules
Pennsylvania-based Equitrans Midstream said April 16 it was adding its voice to the growing chorus of those expressing support for a return to tighter methane emission regulations.
Two resolutions moving through the US Congress would repeal the 2020 Methane Rescission Rule from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA last year loosened standards on emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from new oil and gas facilities, part of the Trump administration’s effort to break up bureaucracy for the benefit of US energy dominance.
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Equitrans, which has an established footprint in the Appalachian shale basin, said regulations should keep pace with the changes underway in the broader energy sector.
“Americans have worked to increase production of our domestic oil and gas resources and provide safe transportation to supply our nation with reliable, cost-effective energy; and we believe methane controls and reduction should continue to evolve as our society continues its transition to a lower-carbon economy,” Diana Charletta, the president of Equitrans, said.
The announcement from Equitrans mirrors a decision made yesterday by EQT, the largest natural gas producer in North America, to back a repeal of the methane rule.
In January, Equitrans committed to a 50% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, a 50% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and said it would strive for a net-zero carbon goal by 2050.