On August 30, 2023, EPA, DOE, and DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) announced the availability of $350 million in formula grant funding for states to monitor and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and for the environmental restoration of well sites. One component of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) created by IRA section 60113, this funding opportunity will help oil and gas well owners and facility operators voluntarily and permanently reduce methane emissions from leaks and daily operations of low-producing conventional wells on non-federal lands.
Methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide, has emissions that are one of the biggest drivers of climate change. This EPA and DOE collaboration is occurring alongside a new White House Methane Task Force aimed at providing proactive methane leak detection, data transparency, and supporting state and local efforts to mitigate and enforce methane emissions regulations.
In addition, EPA and DOE plan to announce future competitive funding opportunities to provide technical assistance for industry to monitor and reduce methane emissions from leaks and daily operations. States’ applications for this formula grant funding are due by September 30th, 2023 at 5:00pm ET.