Trump scraps Biden-era methane rules, says move will save $45 billion, unlock oil supplies

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that his administration was terminating a Biden-era regulation aimed at curbing methane emissions from oil and gas operations, arguing that the move would reduce costs for energy producers and consumers while boosting domestic oil production.Speaking at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump said the rollback of what he called “expensive and unnecessary” regulations would save $45 billion and unlock an additional 210 million barrels of oil, equivalent to around 10 days of US petroleum consumption.The move comes as Trump faces criticism over high fuel prices amid the war in Iran and seeks to encourage domestic oil and gas production. His administration has been rolling back climate policies introduced under former President Joe Biden.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, said the proposed revisions would ease restrictions on the oil and natural gas industry. The agency estimates the changes could also unlock 1.41 trillion cubic feet of additional natural gas.The Biden-era rule, finalised in 2024, required oil and gas operators to reduce methane leaks and limit the release of other harmful pollutants.It also introduced nationwide requirements covering existing oil and gas facilities, expanding on earlier regulations that largely focused on new and modified operations.One key provision was the EPA’s Super Emitter Program, which required companies to investigate major methane leaks detected by third parties using approved remote-sensing technology. The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the programme and easing standards for smaller oil and gas wells.Environmental groups warn of health and climate risksEnvironmental organisations criticised the rollback, arguing that weaker restrictions would allow oil and gas companies to release more methane into the atmosphere and avoid the costs of repairing leaks.Darin Schroeder, methane legal and regulatory director at the Clean Air Task Force, said the EPA’s proposal violated the Clean Air Act’s responsibility to protect public health and welfare. He urged the agency to withdraw the proposal and implement the 2024 rule.The American Lung Association also warned that methane leaks can release volatile organic compounds and carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde, which can worsen air quality and pose health risks to communities near oil and gas facilities.Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp said the rollback gave polluting companies a “free pass” at the expense of consumers. The organisation has estimated that oil and gas operators leaked, vented or flared about $7 billion worth of natural gas after the EPA announced in March 2025 that it would stop enforcing the regulations.Methane is the main component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. It escapes from oil and gas equipment through leaks and can also be released or burned off during drilling operations. Cutting methane emissions has become a major focus of global efforts to slow climate change.Trump administration argues rules burden energy industryThe Trump administration has maintained that the Biden-era restrictions imposed excessive costs on energy producers and hindered domestic production.Zeldin has argued that the regulations would have cost the industry billions of dollars. The EPA’s latest proposal is part of a broader effort to reverse climate policies introduced under Biden, including measures targeting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicle fuel economy.The Biden administration had projected that its methane rule would prevent an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038 and generate billions of dollars in public health and environmental benefits. The regulation also required operators to address leaks from smaller wells, which account for a relatively small share of US oil and gas production but can contribute disproportionately to methane emissions.The rule was designed to work alongside a methane fee introduced under the 2022 climate law. The fee, which would have charged energy producers for emissions above specified limits, was repealed by Congress after Trump took office.The rollback has also drawn attention to the oil and gas industry's efforts to influence the regulations. Records obtained by watchdog group Fieldnotes showed that industry representatives and companies met with the EPA to discuss methane rules at least 38 times during the Trump administration’s first year.Environmental advocates say the changes could allow companies to continue wasting natural gas that could otherwise be captured and used, while increasing pollution in communities near drilling sites.The EPA's proposed revisions would need to proceed through the regulatory process before becoming final.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.