Biden administration failed to include oil, natural gas industry at methane summit, energy trade groups say

(WO) – The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Workforce & Technology Council released statements after the Biden Administration failed to include representatives from the natural gas and oil industry in today's White House Methane Summit.

“Tackling a challenge of this scale requires not just will and words, but action. We are disappointed that the industries driving the most reductions in methane emissions, including the natural gas and oil industry, were not included. API’s members are investing in advanced technology to detect and mitigate emissions, and thanks to industry action, average methane emissions intensity declined by nearly 66% across all seven major producing regions from 2011 to 2021. We continue to work with the administration to build on this progress,” said API President and CEO Mike Sommers.

API supports efforts to advance cleaner fuels, as outlined in the Climate Action Framework. Programs like The Environmental Partnership, whose members make up more than 70% of the U.S. onshore natural gas and oil industry, are helping to ensure this progress continues.

Energy Workforce & Technology Council Tim Tarpley said, ““President Biden is hosting a summit to discuss how to mitigate methane emissions. However, he is excluding the very people at the forefront of developing the technologies that are reducing emissions while meeting global energy demand. It is frustrating that the White House would exclude the industry when it would be beneficial to them and the American people if they would bring to the table and listen to the very people, innovators, that have the experience and history of producing methane emissions reducing technologies.”