Trump is making it easier for fossil fuel companies to leak methane

What happened

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to undo rules from the Biden era that were meant to cut methane leaks from oil and gas wells and pipelines. The EPA says the changes will help oil and gas companies save money. The announcement was expected to be made at a campaign rally in Texas.

Key numbers

• Methane is up to 80 times as powerful as carbon dioxide at warming over a 20-year period.
• Methane has caused about 30 percent of global warming so far.
• The EPA says the rollbacks will save companies $45 billion. The old rules would have cost $18 billion.
• Old wells make up about half of the industry's methane leaks, but produce only 6 percent of US oil and gas.
• The Biden-era rules were estimated to bring up to $98 billion in benefits.

Background

Methane is the main part of what the oil and gas industry calls natural gas. It often leaks during drilling, moving, and storing fuel. Unlike carbon dioxide, which stays in the air for hundreds or thousands of years, methane breaks down in a little over a decade. This makes cutting methane leaks one of the quickest ways to slow warming.

Why it matters

Health and environmental groups say the rollback is a major setback. They argue that methane pollution harms families who live near oil and gas sites. Because methane warms the planet quickly, weaker rules could make it harder to limit rising global temperatures.

What to watch

• The EPA's official proposal and the details of the changes to rules for old wells.
• The end of the Super Emitter Program, which warned companies about very large methane releases.
• Reactions from states, companies, and courts.
• How data centers in Texas may affect air quality in the coming years.