America’s Natural Gas and Oil Companies Lead Multiple Initiatives to Reduce Methane Emissions

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2020 – The American Petroleum Institute today applauded the launch of the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition, an initiative representing nearly 80 percent of oil production in Texas and formed to minimize methane emissions and flaring in the state of Texas. The majority of the nearly 40 members of the new coalition also participate in other initiatives that improve environmental performance, including The Environmental Partnership.

“Initiatives like the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition further demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. natural gas and oil industry to reduce emissions while meeting society's energy needs,” said Matthew Todd, director of The Environmental Partnership. “Collaborative efforts to advance the industry’s collective knowledge of technology initiatives and research is essential to delivering emissions reductions and environmental progress.”

Methane emission rates from the largest producing regions across the U.S. have fallen more than 60 percent even as production has increased by 50 percent since 1990, demonstrating the industry’s continued progress to efficiently deliver energy to the consumer. The actions by the participants of both The Environmental Partnership and the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition build on this positive trend by focusing on environmental progress through best practices and improved data quality to advance emissions reduction solutions. 

For more information from the Environmental Partnership, read the 2019 annual report online.

For additional information on the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition, visit www.texasmethaneflaringcoalition.org.

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Our more than 600 members produce, process and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In our first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.