America’s Natural Gas Alliance President Reacts to Proposed Natural Gas Star Methane Challenge Program

America's Natural Gas Alliance President and CEO Marty Durbin released a statement on Thursday in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed measures for the Natural Gas Star Methane Challenge Program.

"We will be reviewing the details of the proposed Natural Gas Star program in the days ahead to see how the program would work in tandem with existing and upcoming regulations,” said Durbin. “We have always said that the best way to achieve reductions in methane is through collaborative measures.

The Natural Gas Star Methane Challenge is a purely voluntary measure, giving companies that take part the chance to highlight their emission reduction efforts. However, it has been criticized for affecting minimal changes in overall emissions for the industry.

“The fact that we have cut methane emissions from production activities by 38 percent since 2005 while increasing production by 35 percent bears that out. By contrast, it is clear that direct regulation will lead to regulatory uncertainty and fewer reductions over a longer period of time."