Climate and Methane
OUR PRIORITIES
Advocate for stringent and enforceable safeguards, policies, and regulations at the state and federal levels to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and hold the sector responsible for pollution.
Advance innovative local approaches that bring together energy producers, residents, and local leaders to protect public health, improve air quality, fight climate change, and stop the waste of taxpayer resources.
RECENT IMPACT
Western Leaders Network has worked with leaders and partners in Colorado and New Mexico to advance nation-leading strategies to cut down on wasted gas, reduce emissions, protect communities, and improve public transparency in the oil and gas leasing process.
FEDERAL METHANE RULEMAKING
Both the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management are developing new federal standards to reduce methane and other pollutants from the oil and gas industry. The BLM has proposed a rule to prevent the waste of oil and gas resources on public and tribal lands, while the EPA proposal would limit methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations in every state.
RESOURCES
Rocky Mountain Institute - A low-cost energy future for western cooperatives
Environmental Defense Fund - How reducing methane emissions creates jobs
Datu Research - Job creation in the emerging methane leak detection and repair industry