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This blog is part of a series covering methane regulations at the federal and state level.
Read our first blog, “Methane gas is different“
The Clean Air Act, one of our bedrock environmental laws, depends heavily on states for implementation. Under the law, EPA sets baseline requirements, but it is left up to the states to develop and enforce the programs that reduce emissions on the ground. The Biden-era rule to cut methane was designed to ensure that each state implements a minimum standard, setting a floor. This allows states to go further to do more to reduce air pollution from oil and gas.
This structure of setting pollution rules creates a silver lining in the current moment.
While the Trump administration continues to prioritize oil industry profits over clean air, every oil and gas state still retains the authority to regulate oil and gas pollution – and to go beyond federal minimums to protect air quality, public health, and the climate. That means meaningful methane reductions can continue even amid federal uncertainty or failure.
States like New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Colorado have a real opportunity to step up and build strong methane controls. With the new and emerging methane detection technologies, like methane satellites, state regulatory agencies can innovate and reduce even more pollution to the benefit of the people of their states and the world.
The Trump administration continues to play politics with the future of our children, communities, and homes, with major attacks on climate action that mean more pollution in our air, water, and our bodies.
Local communities and states can step up and lead. Now is still the time to act to cut methane.
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