Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed $850 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Methane Emissions Reduction Program to fund methane emissions reduction projects and combat climate change, including $341 million for six Colorado-based projects led by Colorado State University and Pioneer Energy, Inc. This funding is part of $1.36 billion from EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) to reduce methane emissions provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Bennet and Hickenlooper helped pass into law.
“Colorado has been a national leader in addressing methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,” said Bennet. “This funding helps ensure Colorado will continue leading the way towards cutting dangerous air pollution, slowing the rate of climate change, and growing our clean energy economy.”
“Methane emissions are driving our climate crisis and putting Coloradans’ health at risk,” said Hickenlooper. “As governor, we set the global standard on methane regulations. Now Colorado will lead the fight to stop these emissions at the source – all thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act.”
In total, the EPA announced over $850 million for 43 projects, with over $341 million allocated to multiple projects led by two Colorado organizations:
- Over $324 million to Colorado State University to reduce methane emissions from existing wells, improve data monitoring of methane emissions; and
- $17 million to Pioneer Energy, Inc. to deploy technologies that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.
Bennet and Hickenlooper have consistently worked to cut methane emissions and strengthen federal oil and gas methane rules modeled on Colorado’s. In 2021, Bennet and Hickenlooper led members of the Colorado congressional delegation to push the EPA for stronger methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. In 2023, both senators sent multiple letters to the EPA urging them to track methane emissions more accurately. Bennet and Hickenlooper joined members of the Colorado congressional delegation in a letter of support for Pioneer Energy’s funding application.
More information on the Colorado projects is available HERE.