Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director - Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, (512) 740-4086, cyrus.reed@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Six Texas-based U.S. House Democrats — Rep. Henry Cuellar, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Marc Veasey, and Rep. Filemon Vela — are threatening to halt progress on the most important climate legislation in U.S. history, and derail vital investments in clean energy, clean transportation, and environmental justice in Texas communities.
The members’ opposition threatens to weaken President Joe Biden’s hand as he travels to speak next week at COP26, a pivotal international climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland. This would slow progress towards global climate action and worsen extreme weather disasters in Texas like hurricanes and Winter Storm Uri, which killed at least 210 Texans.
The representatives’ opposition centers on a modest fee on methane pollution that would raise revenue to help the industry monitor and stop leaks. The oil and gas industry releases vast amounts of methane, a climate super-pollutant more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Recent analysis shows that the fee would have minimal impact on consumers and would create more than 65,000 jobs nationwide modernizing aging gas infrastructure. Texas produces more oil and gas than any other state, but lacks state-specific rules aimed at cutting methane pollution.
The group also objects to efforts to close tax loopholes that primarily pad the profits of oil and gas executives. According to the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. government ranks second in the world in its support of the oil and gas industry, handing out over $14.7 billion in support each year through federal subsidies, the vast majority of which translate to industry profit.
In response, Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“After the last year, Texans know that the climate crisis isn’t some far off concern - it’s here now and it’s impacting the health and safety of our communities. By supporting the Build Back Better Act, our Congressional representatives have a once in a generation opportunity to help more Texans access clean energy, end tax giveaways to fossil fuel executives, and put more people to work cleaning up and improving oil and gas infrastructure. No state would benefit more from the methane fee than Texas, as it would spur innovation and jobs in cleaning up the oil and gas fields. We urge our Congressional representatives to consider the historic significance of this moment, and what it means for Texans’ future.”
Update: Good news. On Friday, November 5th, all six Texas democrats voted to support moving forward on the Build Back Better Act, including the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which includes an annual fee on methane emissions. All six Democrats have pledged to support the bill when it comes to a final vote in the House next week. The Sierra Club appreciates the public support and continues to call on all Representatives -- in Texas and elsewhere - to support final passage of the Build Back Better Act.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.