Simmons: Methane regulations ignore industry efforts

Oklahoma oil leader says Biden has it all wrong – Oklahoma Energy Today

 

The leader of the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, Brook A. Simmons is not letting up on his critical response to the latest proposed methane rule from the Environmental Protection Agency.

In yet another statement this week from Simmons, he called the new EPA rule the “most stringent methane emissions regulations ever” and said it is ignoring efforts already in practice by the US oil and natural gas industry to produce and deliver the cleanest hydrocarbon molecules in the world.

“For the first time, EPA is proposing guidelines for states to regulate hundreds of thousands of low-producing wells operated by small oil and natural gas businesses instead of waiting on the scientific findings of a Department of Energy study on marginal well emissions.”

Simmons says methane emissions have already declined because of innovation and industry actions in the largest oil and natural gas producing parts of the country.

“The proposed methane rule is just one more avenue the Biden administration is using in its attempt to stop oil and natural gas production in the United States,” added the Alliance president.

“Instead of partnering with and embracing the oil and natural gas industry’s ability to innovate and harness technology, the president has chosen to outsource energy production, calling for more oil from OPEC+ countries that have far less stringent environmental regulations than those already in place here.”

Petroleum Alliance

He said Biden’s efforts ignore critical energy shortfalls in other parts of the world and “are moving the U.S. from a nation of affordable, reliable and abundant energy to a nation of energy scarcity.”

“This crisis will hit working families who need affordable energy to heat their homes, affordable fuel and affordable consumer goods used on a daily basis,” he said in a statement issued this week.

Simmons explained the Alliance is reviewing the 250-plus page proposed rule and multiple supporting documents and will be submitting detailed comments to EPA.