New data released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Thursday shows that methane levels in the Permian Basin have declined from 2016 to 2017. Emissions fell by approximately 100,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in West Texas’ Permian Basin.
This decrease happened simultaneous to an increase of oil production of approximately 900,000 barrels per day. This increase in Permian production has contributed to American energy dominance, as the United States is now the world’s largest producer of natural gas and crude oil.
While this is a remarkable accomplishment, Texas environmentalists will likely ignore the data. Groups have previously used “misleading” data to misrepresent falling methane emissions in the Lone Star State.