NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO • August 13, 2020
Despite opposition from the oil and gas industry it aims to help, the Trump administration Thursday is expected to roll back an Obama-era rule designed to reduce climate-warming methane emissions. Large oil companies want the Obama rules left in place. Shell, BP and the Exxon Mobil Corp. have big natural gas portfolios. They worry that if methane emissions aren't controlled that could undermine arguments that natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal. The oil industry is split on this though, as smaller companies say the requirements are too expensive for them.