Apr 15, 2021 IPAA Testimony on CLEAN Future Act
Posted at 12:41h
in Testimony
IPAA submitted testimony on the CLEAN Future Act, a 981-page bill described by the Democratic leadership of the House Energy and Commerce and Committee as “ambitious new climate legislation that ensures the United States acts aggressively to tackle the climate crisis this decade and achieve net zero greenhouse gas pollution.” The bill is far reaching, with decarbonization efforts spanning from infrastructure modernization to funds for workers.
In the testimony, IPAA addresses a number of provisions in the CLEAN Future Act that directly affect oil and natural gas production, many of which have no relationship to reducing greenhouse gases. IPAA has been at the forefront of advocating on these issues for many years and will continue to lead the industry in the fight against the misguided policies outlined in this legislation.
The testimony comments break down:
- Sections of the legislation unrelated to the state objective of the CLEAN Future Act – These include changes to the carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process without an evident environmental benefit; expanding the Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA); changes to the Clean Air Act that expand regulated pollutants; and expand Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste definitions. In his testimony, IPAA EVP Dan Naatz details how taken together, these sections do not comport with the objectives of the CLEAN Future Act. Instead, they are wedged into the bill solely to reduce or prevent the development of American oil and natural gas. “Sections 621 and 623 create unnecessary burdens on state programs to implement new requirements without any justification. Sections 624 and 625 regurgitate the same stale, unjustified proposals that have been shopped by ardent anti-oil and natural gas environmentalists for years. The Committee, the House and the Congress should reject all of them.”
- Super Pollutant Provisions – The CLEAN Future Act contains provisions that address methane or carbon dioxide emissions from oil and natural gas production operations that generate unworkable outcomes. These sections of the legislation create an unrealistic burden on states and set technology requirements that may or may not result in desired emissions reductions.
- Carbon Dioxide Geologic Sequestration – IPAA supports the funding authority in Section 502 to provide for state permitting of Class VI underground injection wells.
