Pfluger Criticizes EPA’s New Methane Emissions Fee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX) has voiced strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently finalized rule implementing a methane emissions fee on oil and natural gas producers.

Pfluger contends that this measure will burden American energy producers and adversely affect the economy.

“The Biden-Harris EPA’s ‘natural gas tax’ will drive up costs for all Americans, jeopardize our energy security, and increase emissions,” Pfluger stated. Representing Texas’s 11th District, a major energy-producing region, he argues that the rule undermines efforts to reduce emissions by imposing additional financial burdens on companies striving to enhance production.

The EPA’s rule, announced in January 2024, introduces a fee on methane emissions exceeding specified thresholds, starting at $900 per ton in 2024 and escalating to $1,500 per ton by 2026. This initiative aims to incentivize the adoption of best practices to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

Pfluger has consistently opposed the natural gas tax since its proposal, introducing the Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act in January 2023 to eliminate the fee. He remains hopeful for its repeal under a future Trump administration.

The EPA estimates that the rule will significantly reduce methane emissions, aligning with broader efforts to combat climate change. However, industry groups and some lawmakers argue that the fee could lead to increased energy costs and hinder domestic energy production.