Republicans blast EPA’s new final rule instituting tax on high methane emissions

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), and U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) slammed a rule finalized on Nov. 12 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that aims to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas facilities by taxing those that emit high levels of the toxic greenhouse gas.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues and President Trump to repeal this misguided tax early in the next Congress,” Sen. Capito said on Tuesday. 

Specifically, the EPA’s final rule facilitates implementation of Congress’s directive in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in 2022, to collect a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC), which applies only to waste emissions from oil and gas facilities that report emissions of more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Also, as directed by Congress, the WEC starts at $900 per metric ton of wasteful emissions in calendar year (CY) 2024, increasing to $1,200 for CY 2025, and $1,500 for CY 2026 and beyond, and only applies to emissions that exceed statutorily specified methane intensity levels, according to the EPA.

“The Biden administration is continuing its anti-consumer agenda by implementing the natural gas tax enacted by Democrats in the [IRA],” said Sen. Capito. “This natural gas tax will inflate prices for consumers and reduce domestic energy production, which will empower our adversaries abroad.”

Sen. John Hoeven pointed out that the WEC comes in addition to costly technology mandates imposed last year on oil and natural gas producers by the Biden administration. 

“Finalizing the natural gas tax is part of a last-minute effort by the Biden administration to continue imposing its radical environmentalist agenda,” said Sen. Hoeven. “The American people clearly rejected this approach, which fueled inflation and increased the cost of goods and services across our economy.”

Sen. Hoeven also said that Republicans will work to repeal “costly policies” like this tax and empower the development of “all of our abundant energy resources, including coal, oil and natural gas.”

“That’s how we can provide relief to American consumers and make the U.S. energy dominant once again,” he added.

Rep. Pfluger agreed, noting that President Biden’s promise to end fossil fuels has hurt energy producers in her district who have worked to increase production while reducing emissions. 

“The Biden-Harris EPA’s natural gas tax will drive up costs for all Americans, jeopardize our energy security, and increase emissions,” she said. “I have fought the natural gas tax since its inception, and I look forward to its repeal under President Trump.”