The proposal by the Trump administration to roll back Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency methane emission regulations, making it less costly for the oil and gas industry to extract fossil fuels, was not met with universal applause by industry CEOs (“EPA to roll back rules on methane, a key contributor to climate change,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30).

In fact, leaders at Shell, BP and Exxon will lobby the Trump administration to reconsider. Why?

“Shell remains committed to achieving our target of maintaining methane emissions intensity below 0.2% by 2025 for all operating assets globally,” said Shell U.S. President Gretchen Watkins. “Despite the Administration’s proposal … Shell’s U.S. assets will continue to contribute to that global target.”

The Trump EPA proposal likely will result in higher methane emissions, undermining progress the industry has made detecting and fixing leaks. Placing a fee on emissions would further reward companies that cut back on leakage. Shell’s position deserves support. So does the methane fee.

Robert Pearsall

Waikiki

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