Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) spoke in favor of the current EPA methane rule during a hearing with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Rep. Peters defended the methane rule — which applies to all new oil and gas operations — that the Scott Pruitt-led EPA attempted to block. The agency recently proposed a two-year delay to implementation of the rule, but that was overturned by federal courts.

 “I support the rule because it will boost energy supplies, reduce air pollution including smog, air toxics, greenhouse gases and the estimated benefit of capturing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry is $2 billion dollars annually,” said Rep. Scott Peters.

 “Substantively, do you think what’s in the methane rule is the right kind of approach to deal with that?” asked Rep. Peters

Pruitt refused to commit to whether or not the agency would be making any substantive changes to the methane rule or to whether they would start the rulemaking process over again. 

Click HERE to watch Rep. Peters question US EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

California has adopted the strongest rules aimed at curbing emissions of methane. Methane is estimated to have 72 times more potential impact on climate change than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has a long-standing commitment to reducing methane emissions. As a result, SDG&E’s natural gas system has one of the lowest methane emission rates in the country.