Subscribe to Receive the Daily Report

Sunday, May 2nd, 2021

The Senate just took a step toward actually lowering US greenhouse gas emissions

Author:     Gregory Svirnovskiy
Source:     Vox
Publication Date:     Apr 29, 2021, 5:40pm EDT
 Link: The Senate just took a step toward actually lowering US greenhouse gas emissions
Stephan:   More good news from the Biden administration and the Senate Democrats, accompanied by three Republicans. All the rest of the Republicans, of course, voted against it. Finally, we are seeing some serious action about Methane, a major source of human-mediated climate change.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) speak at a press conference prior to a Senate vote to reinstate Obama-era methane emissions standards, April 28, 2021.
 Credit: Sarah Silbiger/Getty

Why the Senate’s move to reverse Trump’s deregulation of methane molecules is so critical, and where the resolution goes next.

The Senate on Wednesday took an important step forward on limiting emissions — and meeting its commitments to curb global warming — by voting to limit the unbridled release of methane molecules, often a byproduct of natural gas production, into the atmosphere.

The 52-42 vote reinstates the Oil and Natural Gas New Source Performance Standards, a handful of Obama-era regulations on methane emissions rolled back by former President Donald Trump in August 2020. The measure drew support from every Senate Democrat, as well as Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), who has opposed GOP efforts to deregulate methane emissions in the past; Lindsey Graham (R-SC); and Rob Portman (R-OH). The rule is expected to be taken up and passed by the House of Representatives in May.

The standards alone won’t be […]

Read the Full Article