EPA’s Last-Minute Methane Fee: A Desperate Attempt to Entrench Biden-Harris Policies Before Zeldin Takes Over

November 12, 2024

In a last-ditch effort to cement their radical climate agenda, the Biden-Harris administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new rule imposing a hefty methane fee on oil and gas companies. Just as the administration, which voters rejected at the ballot box, is on its way out, the EPA is scrambling to push through as many action as possible before former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin takes over. 

According to an EPA press release, “$900 per metric ton of wasteful emissions in CY 2024, increasing to $1,200 for CY 2025, and $1,500 for CY 2026 and beyond.”

This methane fee is yet another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s heavy-handed approach to environmental policy. By imposing such a steep fee, the EPA is essentially penalizing American energy producers and driving up costs for consumers. This rule is not about protecting the environment; it’s about pushing a radical agenda that benefits special interests and hurts American workers and families.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. Lee Zeldin is expected to be appointed EPA administrator and has made it clear that he will seek to undo much of the Biden-Harris administration’s overreach. Zeldin understands that a strong energy sector is essential to America’s economic prosperity and national security. He will work to reverse misguided policies like the EPA’s methane fee and restore common sense to environmental regulation. According to PTF Executive Director Daniel Turner:

“As a conservative fighter from deep blue New York, Lee Zeldin knows how to win in the toughest political terrain. There is no greater priority for the incoming administration than rolling back the maze of regulations and red tape imposed by the Biden Administration on America’s energy producers. The EPA has been a chief culprit in this misguided endeavor, and we look forward to Administrator Zeldin restoring common sense, starting by rescinding their reckless mandates on methane and electric vehicles.”

The EPA’s last-minute methane fee is a desperate attempt to entrench the Biden-Harris administration’s failed policies before they leave office. This rule will only serve to burden American energy producers and drive-up costs for consumers. Fortunately, Administrator Zeldin will be committed to undoing this and other misguided policies. It’s time to restore common sense to environmental regulation and prioritize the economic well-being of American families. The EPA’s last-minute scramble is a clear sign that their days of overreach are numbered. With Zeldin at the helm, we can look forward to a more balanced and sensible approach to energy policy.