Washington, DC (January 22, 2016) Today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) proposed to increase the bureaucratic burden on natural gas producers in New Mexico and across the country. Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement in response to the announcement:
"Again, this administration continues to threaten jobs and domestic energy security," said Pearce. "America's energy renaissance has made us the top producer of natural gas in the world, lowering electric rates for New Mexico families and providing vital funding for state governments and local communities. Even with the drastic increase in production over the last decade, natural gas producers have managed to decrease emissions below 2005 levels. It appears the administration has decided to cater to special interests groups at the expense of hardworking New Mexican families. I will fight to make sure that these costly and unnecessary regulations are not implemented."
EPA's latest greenhouse gas inventory reported that methane emissions from hydraulically fractured natural gas wells are down 79 percent since 2005. Total methane emissions from natural gas systems are down 11 percent since 2005, a direct result of industry innovation. This is all while natural gas production has soared to record highs.