Illinois Democrat congressman Sean Casten wants the EU to hold the line on methane.
US oil and gas companies in recent months have dialled up the pressure, even turning to the White House to try to push the EU into postponing the rollout of the regulation.
In a recent letter to commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the congressman – who has spent years pushing tougher methane rules in Washington – urged her to resist pressure from “fossil-fuel interests” to weaken or delay the rules.
Methane is the main component of gas, and as a greenhouse gas it is more than 80 times as potent a driver of global warming as carbon dioxide.
“Maintaining” the rules for all suppliers, including those in the US, is “essential” for both Europe’s energy security and global climate goals, said Casten, vice-chair of Congress’ energy and environmental coalition, a caucus of roughly 100 House Democrats, who co-signed the letter with four other representatives.
