Methane — the primary component of natural gas — is a powerful pollutant. More than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide in the short term, methane is a leading contributor to the climate crisis. U.S. oil and gas operations emit approximately 16 million metric tons of it each year through venting, leaking and flaring. This loss amounts to approximately $2 billion worth of wasted natural gas annually, which is costly to both local economies and the health of our climate.
Opinion
Reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to mitigate climate change impacts while also increasing taxpayer revenue to fund infrastructure projects, schools, public safety services and other community needs.
Fortunately, the demand for technologies and services to decrease this pollution has never been higher. New research shows that methane mitigation jobs are on the rise across the nation and in Wyoming.
Notably, our state is among the top 15 for methane mitigation job growth with 19 employee locations across the state, including service headquarters in Laramie. Nationally, the number of U.S. manufacturing and service companies in methane mitigation has increased nearly 25% from 2021 to 2024, while Wyoming has seen 46% growth.
As a local elected official, I want healthy air and a healthy economy for my community and constituents, and this burgeoning industry is a testament that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Strong, comprehensive federal and state rules to cut pollution drive demand for cleaner technologies. This demand creates jobs in the manufacturing, installation and maintenance sectors for methane-reducing equipment such as leak detection systems and low-emissions infrastructure. Compliance with methane regulations also expands the need for environmental consultants, engineers and technicians.
Our state has made positive strides to cut pollution over the past decade, including progress last fall to localize new federal standards under the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane from new and existing sources from the oil and gas sector.
Early this year, Wyoming also received about $4 million in federal funding from the EPA to replace pneumatic controllers — major methane-emitting devices — with cleaner alternatives at remote oil and gas wells within the Greater Green River Basin, which is home to some of Wyoming’s worst pollution. Both of these recent developments will have significant economic and health benefits for our communities.
Unfortunately, our federal leadership is now gambling with our economic future and derailing our climate progress by rolling back essential environmental protections, programs and investments. With uncertainty surrounding federal air quality safeguards and important efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, this new analysis should empower state and local leaders to continue embracing a better future for Wyoming.
I am committed to supporting the methane mitigation industry’s growth and the regulations that make it possible. If our state continues to pursue robust, commonsense methane reduction rules and invest in this thriving sector, we will bring more quality jobs to our communities, protect our health and environment, and ensure Wyoming’s energy industry remains competitive.
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