Live Lobbying Updates & Resources

In a position paper on COP27 published on 3rd November, BusinessEurope stated support for the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and advocated that other G20 nations increase their 2030 targets to close the ambition gap with the EU, suggesting that the EU should not raise its Nationally Determined Contribution unless other countries do too. It also supported the finalization of the Fit for 55 package but stressed the burdens on business and the risks of carbon leakage, advocating for a climate club based on a global carbon price floor. The position paper further stated BusinessEurope was in favor of implementing methane regulations on the fossil gas supply chain, such as performance standards.

In a blog post released on 11th August, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) announced its opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act being considered in the House. The blog post detailed its specific opposition to climate provisions, including the electric vehicle tax credit and the methane fee.

In a 14th June joint statement on EU-US LNG trade, Eurogas advocated for new LNG infrastructure in the EU and long-term LNG contracts to meet gas demand in the bloc. The group did not appear to take a position on the EU’s methane regulation, but stated it would “uphold” the policy, and supported a pragmatic approach to methane regulation in the US.

Industry associations Eurogas and Gas Infrastructure Europe released a 10th October joint position paper on the upcoming EU Methane Regulation. The groups advocated to weaken and reduce measures for monitoring, reporting and verifying methane emissions, and reducing the frequency of leak detection and repair requirements, alongside opposing venting and flaring proposals.

In the Q2 2022 federal lobbying disclosures published on July 20th for American Gas Association and Edison Electric Institute with utilities CenterPoint, AES Corporation, American Electric Power Company, DTE Energy, Edison International, Exelon, FirstEnergy, NextEra, Pacific Gas & Electric, PPL Corporation, Public Service Enterprise Group, Southern Company, Vistra Corp, and Xcel Energy and Entergy, published on July 20th, disclosed the companies direct engagement with policymakers on the Build Back Better Act’s proposed methane fee without disclosing a clear position.

In the Q2 2022 federal lobbying disclosures for Ameren Corp and Duke Energy both utilities stated direct engagement with policymakers on the Build Back Better Act’s clean energy tax credits without disclosing any clear positions on the legislation. In the same disclosure, Duke also listed engagement activities on the “natural gas provisions” of the Build Back Better Act without providing any description of its position. In Consolidated Edison’s federal lobbying report for Q2 2022, published on July 20th, the utility stated direct engagement on the electric vehicle provisions of the Build Back Better Act without disclosing a clear position. The reports highlight the industry’s private engagement and lack of transparency on specific climate provisions of the reconciliation bill, which remains stalled in Congress.

These lobbying reports demonstrate strong industry engagement on the reconciliation bill, which remains stalled in negotiation following inconsistent statements from Senator Manchin.

In an April 2022 position paper on the EU’s Methane Rules for the energy sector, Fortum supported the legislation with exceptions. These included advocating for compensation or incentives for methane emissions reductions, reducing the frequency of Leak Detection and Repair checks, and appeared to be unsupportive of the routine venting and flaring ban.

Communications from the American Petroleum Institute (API) between August 6th and August 12th, 2022 commented on various provisions of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). API President and CEO, Mike Sommers, welcomed parts of the IRA that proposed new oil and gas lease sales and carbon capture and storage (CCS) investments in a press release. Sommers also opposed the proposed tax on crude oil and fossil gas, citing that it imposes additional costs to the industry, and went on to suggest the need for a “comprehensive plan” for critical investment in oil and gas infrastructure. Further, an August 9th blog post released by API opposed the consumer tax credit extension for electric vehicle purchases set in the IRA, suggesting that this provision would “pick winners and losers” and was not technology neutral. In this post, API also opposed the tax on methane emissions.

On July 6th 2022, the Vice President of Upstream Policy at the American Petroleum Institute (API), Kevin O’Scannlain, wrote an op-ed in Real Clear Energy advocating for the removal of restrictions on oil and gas leasing in US federal lands and waters. O’Scannlain also called for a “robust” 5-year leasing program in the Outer Continental Shelf. The article also opposed the US Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of methane in the Permian Basin, calling it “unproductive” and “burdensome”, and went on to use this argument to support the expansion of Section 45Q tax credits for the development of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).

In a February 2022 Euractiv article, Eurogas president Didier Holleaux appeared to support the EU’s Methane Rules for the energy sector with major exceptions, including advocating against measures on gas imports by highlighting gas supply concerns.