Methane rules could be Biden’s deliverable at COP28

Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Nov 22, 2023 View in browser   By Minho Kim An oil pump jack operates in Long Beach, California, in 2021. The Biden administration is racing to finalize a series of methane rules on the oil and gas sector. | Mario Tama/AFP via Getty Images The Biden administration is preparing a regulatory crackdown on methane, a major source of planet-warming pollution from the oil and gas industry. U.S. agencies are expected to roll out six rules on methane emissions in the next six months, writes Jean Chemnick — the first of which could land in early December as almost 200 nations are gathering for the global climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Methane, the major component of natural gas, traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It accounts for roughly a third of global warming since industrialization, according to researchers. Concern that the world is producing and burning more fossil fuels — contributing more methane to the atmosphere — is pushing governments to act more aggressively. Keeping oil producers from flaring methane and stopping gas pipelines from leaking into the air aren’t totally out of reach, proponents say. The availability of technology to limit methane emissions has made the gas lower-hanging fruit for President Joe Biden’s push to zero out most U.S. climate emissions by 2050. “There's a recognition that cutting methane is one of the fastest, best ways to reduce pollution that's contributing to climate change,” said Paul Billings, national senior vice president for public policy at the American Lung Association. A rule that would limit emissions from oil and gas production, storage, pipelines and other facilities will become final as soon as next week. That could coincide with a U.S.-China show of unity around cutting methane as they represent the two biggest economies at the United Nations climate conference that starts Nov. 30. U.S. natural gas exporters are also hoping for preferential treatment from European buyers looking for cleaner sources of the fuel. The United States is working with other countries on establishing international standards for energy exports. The possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency and a Republican-controlled Congress is another reason that the Biden administration is hurrying to finish methane emissions rules by early 2024. Otherwise they could fall victim to the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to overturn rules up to 60 legislative days after they become final. New U.S. methane emissions rules could also pave the way for more global progress on curbing the planet-warming gas, experts say. “Strong standards from the United States are a very important signal,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “They help set the realm of the possible for the rest of the world.”   It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Minho Kim. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to mkim@eenews.net. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule Monday, Nov. 27. Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the oil and gas industry has grown as nations work to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     Power Centers A Plug Power hydrogen storage and handling facility (left). A company worker (right) fills a fuel cell with hydrogen. | Plug Power Clean hydrogen backer in financial turmoil A corporate sponsor behind five of the Energy Department's seven hydrogen hubs hinted at an impending bankruptcy amid growing supply challenges, dealing a setback to the Biden administration's strategy for reducing U.S. carbon emissions, writes Christine Mui. The company, Plug Power, has suffered delays in building its plants, fueling concerns about whether the hydrogen producer can stay afloat as it faces difficulties in scaling up the nascent technology. Its Nov. 9 regulatory filing suggests that the company could run out of cash over the next year without further equity injection. 'I’m sick of greenwashing,' environmentalists shouted Climate justice activists stormed an international hydrogen conference this week held in Brussels, claiming that the cleaner fuel produced in developing nations for exports to wealthier countries depletes water reservoirs and amounts to “colonial plunder,” writes Gabriel Gavin. Low-emissions “green” hydrogen requires substantial amount of water to produce, derived from splitting water molecules using electricity from renewable energy. Many of the firms behind new hydrogen initiatives are linked to fossil fuel companies, and environmentalists worry that they would cause harm in local communities in less-developed nations. Highway agency releases a climate rule The Federal Highway Administration published a sweeping rule that requires state and local governments to set declining carbon emissions targets for road projects funded with federal dollars, writes Mike Lee. Climate advocates have long argued that the infrastructure law Congress passed in 2021 poses a danger of increasing emissions by fueling highway expansions. More highway lanes and miles often encourage more motorists to drive farther, driving up tailpipe emissions. In Other News Patagonia targets Biden: The outdoor retailer launched a campaign urging customers to submit public comments telling the Biden administration to protect the Alaskan Arctic from mining and drilling. Ukraine’s fragile grid: Concerns are growing in Ukraine that Russia will soon resume large-scale attacks on the power grid, plunging the nation again into cold and darkness. Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Javier Milei, who was elected Sunday as Argentina's president, has called climate change "a socialist lie" and could scale back the nation's plans to cut carbon emissions. | Natacha Pisarenko/AP The election of a new far-right president in Argentina raises fears that South America's second-largest economy will develop forests and halt climate action. A pipeline leak in the Gulf of Mexico may have released more than 1 million gallons of oil, the Coast Guard said Tuesday. An ESG backlash spurs a new corporate strategy: greenhushing — declining to publicly release companies' sustainability goals. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving!   SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.       Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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