“This legislation repeals the tax President Biden imposed on every single consumer in this country and protects the hardworking men and women in the Permian Basin who have delivered affordable, reliable energy every day despite being assaulted by the Biden administration for four years. I owed it to my constituents who elected me to fight for them and get this legislation across the finish line. This is only the beginning of my mission to restore American energy dominance, and I thank President Trump for his action on this,” he continued.

Pfluger, the Texas Republican whose District 11 includes the Permian Basin, was joined by Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-19, in the House. Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, sponsored a companion bill in the Senate. The bill specifically disapproves of the waste emissions charge, more popularly known as a methane fee, to nullify the regulations and force the Environmental Protection Agency to revise them.

“We are very appreciative of the President signing this CRA and look forward to working on the next steps,” Ben Shepperd, president, Permian Basin Petroleum Association, told the Reporter-Telegram.

Anne Bradbury, chief executive officer of the American Exploration and Production Council, and Travis Stice, chairman and chief executive officer of Diamondback Energy, issued a joint statement noting the energy industry is unwavering in its commitment to reducing methane and building on recent progress.

“This means working together toward a sensible, workable framework, one that balances costs with benefits and avoids having the government weigh in on behalf of one industry over another,” they said. 

The CRA rolls back the regulations for implementing the fee and stops its negative impact near-term, providing immediate certainty producers, Bradbury and Stice said. But more action is needed, they added, and said signs indicate a repeal of the fee is likely to be included in legislation packages this spring.