Assistance Programs and Resources

• Technical Assistance for Monitoring and Mitigation
• Financial Assistance for Monitoring and Mitigation

The Inflation Reduction Act provides new authorities under Section 136 of the Clean Air Act to reduce methane emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sector through the creation of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP). This program will help reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gas (GHGs) from the oil and gas sector and will have the co-benefit of reducing non-GHG emissions such as volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.

Technical Assistance for Monitoring and Mitigation

As part of the MERP, DOE released a detailed report in June 2024 presenting guidelines for measuring methane emissions from marginal conventional wells (MCWs) to help assist the 14 states receiving formula grants. The guidelines provide information and direction on methane measurement approaches and technologies to help improve the effectiveness and accuracy of methane emissions measurements from MCWs.

Financial Assistance for Monitoring and Mitigation

As part of the MERP, EPA and DOE provided $1.36 billion in federal funding for activities that will help measure and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

Formula grants ($350 million) were awarded to 14 states in December 2023 to support industry efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions at low-producing wells, monitor emissions, and conduct environmental restoration at well pads on non-Federal Lands.

For more information about the state programs funded by MERP and how to get support from these programs to reduce methane emissions, visit the MERP website.

Competitive grants ($850 million) were awarded to 43 projects in December 2024 to reduce, monitor, measure, and quantify methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, including on tribal lands. Some of these projects will help support owners and operators to reduce emissions at oil and gas facilities, especially for marginal conventional wells.

For more information about these awards and a summary of select projects, as well as ways to get support from these programs to reduce methane emissions, visit the MERP website.