Trump announces plan to loosen Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas producers

12 news outlets reported this

Liberal5 outletsCenter3 outletsConservative4 outlets

Published Oct 29, 20263 min read

Overview

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, that his administration will end Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas producers. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the main component of natural gas. The rally came about a week before the elections.

The , led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, previewed the changes earlier this month. The plan would ease requirements for low-producing wells and drop the Super Emitter Program, which let outside monitors flag big leaks. The EPA estimates it would save $45 billion and yield 210 million more and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Low-producing wells make up a small share of U.S. output but are estimated to cause about half of industry methane emissions. Small producers and the National Stripper Well Association say compliance costs could make older wells unprofitable. NBC reports that environmental and health groups say the rollback would increase pollution.

Outlets tie the move to high fuel prices. The proposal is not final. It must go through EPA rulemaking and public comment.

Three sides of the story

Liberal5 outlets

Left-leaning outlets stress the climate and health stakes. NBC explains that methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide. It quotes Liz Scott of the American Lung Association, who says weaker methane rules also loosen protections against other air pollutants.

It also quotes David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council, who expects another lawsuit. NBC includes the Stripper Well Association's argument that compliance would make wells unprofitable. The Guardian draws on Fieldnotes, an oil and gas watchdog, which says industry groups met the EPA at least 38 times in the administration's first year.

It cites an Environmental Defense Fund estimate of $7bn in gas leaked, vented or flared since March 2025. The Independent adds background on the 2024 rule, its projected 58 million tons of avoided methane, and the repealed methane fee. These outlets place the move within a wider set of climate rollbacks and note fuel prices as the political backdrop.

NBC News: Trump says he’ll roll back Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas companies
The Guardian (US): Trump says government to ‘terminate’ Biden-era methane emissions rules
The Independent (US): Trump plans to loosen restrictions on methane emissions from oil drilling

Center3 outlets

Centrist outlets present the announcement as a policy and political event. UPI wrote before the rally, relaying reports from The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Hill that cited anonymous sources. It gives the $45 billion savings estimate and the figures for low-producing wells.

It notes that major companies such as Chevron have backed leak rules while smaller companies fought them. Citing The Post, it adds that executives at some companies, including several major Trump donors, sought the rollback. The Hill reports that Trump announced the loosened rules at a Lubbock rally, his second Texas stop that day, meant to help Republican Ken Paxton's campaign.

It identifies Paxton as the state . The Journal's headlines say the administration is moving to weaken or dismantle the rules, and it reports that small fossil-fuel producers have opposed the regulations.

UPI: Reports: Trump to loosen rules on methane emissions for oil firms
The Hill: Trump announces proposal to loosen methane rules for oil and gas production
The Wall Street Journal (news): Trump Moves to Weaken Methane Emissions Rules for Oil and Gas
The Wall Street Journal (news): The Trump administration is moving to dismantle Biden-era rules that sought to limit emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas

Conservative4 outlets

Right-leaning outlets focus on the cost of the rules to small producers and on energy supply. The Daily Caller details the EPA proposal, including its two options for sorting well sites. It stresses that the proposal is not final and will have a public comment period.

It quotes the National Stripper Well Association, which says compliance costs a well $5,000 to $15,000 a year, against net income of $5,000 to $10,000. It also quotes the Independent Petroleum Association of America and Daren Bakst of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. It includes a statement from David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council opposing the plan.

The Washington Examiner ties the move to high fuel prices, citing diesel at $6.35 per gallon. It quotes Zeldin saying the existing rule does not sufficiently distinguish small operators from major companies. A Washington Times report says the rule curbed domestic energy production and that Trump said he was signing an order.