Methane Clips: February 8, 2023

 

Biden Touts Climate Wins At State Of The Union. According to the Washington Post, “Last night President Biden used his State of the Union speech to tout the Inflation Reduction Act as one of his signature achievements, even as some House Republicans push to repeal the landmark climate and health-care law. ‘The Inflation Reduction Act is also the most significant investment ever in [addressing] climate change,’ Biden said. ‘Lowering utility bills, creating American jobs [and] leading the world to a clean energy future.’ The president’s comments came after Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) last week introduced legislation to repeal the entire Inflation Reduction Act. Still other GOP lawmakers have unveiled bills to rescind specific climate programs established by the law. (More on that below.) Biden made clear he would veto such proposals, which are unlikely to pass the Senate anyway. Some members ‘are threatening to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act,’ the president said. ‘That’s okay. That’s fair. As my football coach used to say, lots of luck in your senior year.’ While energy and the environment were not major themes of the speech, Biden also veered off-script at one point to note that ‘we’re still going to need oil and gas for a while,’ drawing applause from Republicans and boos from Democrats. Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday wore a pin emblazoned with the ‘warming stripes’ created by climate scientist Ed Hawkins.” [Washington Post, 2/8/22 (+)]

 

Biden Takes Climate Victory Lap, Slams Big Oil. According to EE News, “President Joe Biden took a victory lap last night on three historic pieces of energy and environment legislation passed by Congress over the last two years, but sent mixed messages on his plans for fossil fuels. Biden spoke at length during his State of the Union address on the Inflation Reduction Act, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the CHIPS and Science Act, calling them signs that the federal government is ‘finally stepping’ up to address nonpartisan goals of fighting the climate crisis, advancing energy technology and creating American manufacturing jobs. ‘The climate crisis doesn’t care if you’re in a red or blue state. It’s an existential threat,’ said Biden. ‘I’m proud of how America at last is stepping up to the challenge,’ he added.” [EE News, 2/8/23 (=)]

 

Republicans Blast Biden's Attack On Fossil Fuel Industry. According to EE News, “President Joe Biden endeavored during his State of the Union address Tuesday night to reassure lawmakers — and the American public — that fossil fuels are here to stay for the next decade. But for Republicans, such reassurances did little to neutralize his broadside against Big Oil and the record profits raked in by the industry’s giants amid a global energy crisis. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) called it ‘a superficial demagogic attack on oil,’ while Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said it was part of a ‘dog whistle speech aimed at appealing to the far left.’ ‘It’s a stereotypical soundbite,’ said Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), the chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus. ‘My district is full of Small Oil. And it’s often overlooked. And these several large companies are always blamed for every problem.’” [EE News, 2/8/23 (=)]

 

As Oil Surges, BP Pares Back Its Climate Goals. According to EE News, “BP PLC CEO Bernard Looney stood before an audience in London in 2020 and declared ‘we need a rapid transition to net zero.’ On Tuesday, he conceded that the oil company wasn’t ready for a transition quite that quick. The British oil giant will lower its 2030 emission targets, curb its plans to reduce oil production and focus its energy transition strategy on investments in hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicle charging, Looney told investors. The move came as BP reported a profit of $28 billion for 2022, a company record fueled by soaring oil and gas prices. The announcement is particularly significant for a company that has become a barometer for the oil industry’s approach to climate change.” [EE News, 2/8/23 (=)]

 

BP, In A Reversal, Says It Will Produce More Oil And Gas. According to the New York Times, “BP’s chief executive, Bernard Looney, said on Tuesday that the company would pare back its plans to reduce oil and gas production in the coming years, a move that would result in higher-than-expected carbon emissions. The shift appeared to be a response to changes in the geopolitical environment, at least partly caused by the war in Ukraine, which has sent oil and, especially, natural gas prices soaring. The comments came as BP company joined other big oil companies in reporting record annual profit: $27.7 billion for 2022, almost double the adjusted profit of 2021.” [New York Times, 2/7/22 (=)]

 

House Panel Weighs Bills To Ax Climate Law’s Programs. According to the Washington Post, “The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday marked up 17 energy bills and discussion drafts, including Republican bills aimed at repealing climate programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act and boosting the fossil fuel industry. None of the bills are expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, but as a messaging exercise, the measures signal that Republicans are taking aim at the climate law, even as it helps create jobs and economic revenue in their districts and states. The bills included: The Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act would eliminate the climate law’s Methane Emission Reduction Program, which imposes the first-ever federal fee on methane emissions from oil and gas operations.” [Washington Post, 2/8/22 (=)]

 

Two Ways The EPA Can Save Lives And Reduce Pollution With Strong New Rules. According to Clean Energy, “The methane supplemental rule was published in December 2022 and will be open for public comment until February 13, 2023. Methane is a relatively short-lived but potent greenhouse gas, and reducing methane emissions can have a major impact on reducing warming over the next several decades. Currently, methane is thought to be responsible for about 0.5 degree of global warming, and about 30% of the warming. Slowing methane emissions can have a near immediate effect in slowing global warming. The EPA has proposed to strengthen earlier methane rules to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas industry operations. That’s why we are asking our members to ask the EPA to quickly finalize the methane supplemental rule with the strongest possible standards in place. Our comment tool has additional information about the methane rule.” [CleanEnergy.org, 2/7/22 (+)]

 

Growing Body Of Research Suggests Offshore Oil’s Methane Pollution Is Underestimated. According to the Louisiana Illuminator, “Flying 10,000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, in a plane outfitted with infrared imaging equipment, researchers could see methane gas bubbling under water, likely from an undetected pipeline leak. Over the course of several flights in 2021, they spotted frequent gas plumes from platforms, storage tanks, and pipelines offshore, leading the team to believe that the 151 platforms near the Louisiana coast had a much higher methane leak rate than what’s been measured for onshore oil and gas production. ‘I think the bottom line message in this study is there’s a lot of emissions in the shallow waters that are currently unmeasured,’ said Riley Duren, the CEO of Carbon Mapper and coauthor of the nonprofit’s 2022 study of offshore methane emissions. New technologies are allowing for actual measurements of oil and gas methane emissions like never before, whether from leaks or intentional flaring and venting. So far, much of that attention and push for accountability has been focused onshore, while operators claim that drilling offshore has much lower emissions. But researchers are starting to uncover a body of evidence showing why that may not be true.” [Louisiana Illuminator, 2/8/22 (=)]