US seeks to limit methane gas 'flaring' at drilling sites
Source: AP
By MATTHEW DALY
WASHINGTON (AP) The Obama administration on Friday proposed new rules to clamp down on oil companies that burn off natural gas on public land, arguing the effort will reduce waste and harmful methane emissions as part of President Barack Obama's bid to curb climate change.
Energy companies frequently "flare" or burn off vast supplies of natural gas at drilling sites because it does not earn as much money as oil. A report by the Government Accountability Office said 40 percent of the methane gas being burned or vented could be captured economically and sold.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement that natural gas should be used to power the economy, not be wasted being burned into the atmosphere.
Jewell said the new rule will modernize decades-old standards to reflect existing technologies, allowing companies to use captured natural gas to generate power for millions of homes and businesses. Between 2009 and 2014, enough natural gas was lost through venting, flaring and leaks to power more than 5 million homes for a year, she said.
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