PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
February 27, 2025
CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Manager, [email protected]
Washington DC – In a move that undermines public health, economic stability, and energy security, both the House and Senate have voted to repeal the Methane Emissions Reduction Program’s waste emissions charge. This fee was designed to hold the largest oil and gas polluters accountable while incentivizing companies to reduce waste and invest in cost-effective methane reduction technologies. With this repeal, Congress has chosen to protect corporate polluters at the expense of communities, taxpayers, and the climate.
Methane, which is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is responsible for over a quarter of current global warming. Oil and gas operations emit roughly 16 metric tons of methane each year. Without the methane fee, companies have little financial incentive to address leaks, venting, and flaring, which worsen air quality and impact public health, particularly for those living near active oil and gas sites. About 17.3 million people live within a half mile of an active oil and gas well, including 1.6 million Hispanic people.
Additionally, the methane mitigation industry has nearly doubled since 2017 and provides high-quality American jobs that cannot be offshored. The repeal of this fee harms our environment and weakens economic stability by discouraging investment in cleaner, more efficient energy production.
GreenLatinos Leaders Condemn the Repeal of the Methane Polluter Fee
“This rollback is a failure of leadership that directly harms Latino/a/e and frontline communities. Many Latino/a/e families and communities live in frontline areas where they already suffer from high levels of air pollution. The methane polluter fee ensured that the worst polluters were held accountable, reducing the toxic air pollution that disproportionately affects our comunidades. The majority in Congress had the opportunity to prioritize clean air and economic savings, but instead they chose to protect corporate polluters at the expense of our health and safety.” - Irene Burga, Climate justice & Clean Air Program Director, GreenLatinos
“Latino communities all across Colorado are harmed by methane pollution, yet many of their representatives sided with polluters by sponsoring the repeal of the Methane Polluter Fee and undermining the progress that has been made in Colorado.” - Patricia Garcia-Nelson, Colorado Fossil Fuel Just Transition Advocate, GreenLatinos Colorado.
“The Senate’s repeal of the EPA’s methane fee is a setback for Texas communities, particularly for Latino families in regions like the Permian Basin, the Barnett Shale, and along the Gulf Coast, where oil and gas extraction is pervasive. In Texas, where over 5 million people live within a half-mile of oil and gas sites, this repeal only prolongs the exposure to toxic pollutants. While we are deeply disappointed by this decision, our commitment to protecting Texas families is stronger than ever. We will continue to stand up against powerful polluters, advocate for stronger regulations, and fight for a future where clean air and water are not a privilege but a right for every community in our state.” - Rogelio Meixueiro, Texas Community Advocate, GreenLatinos Texas.
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Acerca de GreenLatinos
VerdeLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.
VerdeLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsadas a asegurar nuestra Liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.
