The Trump administration is preparing to significantly relax environmental regulations on stripper wells which are low-producing oil and gas wells known for their high methane emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to reduce inspection and equipment upgrade requirements for over 700,000 such wells across the United States. These wells, though they produce only 6% of the country’s oil and natural gas, are responsible for approximately half of the sector’s methane pollution.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. The proposed changes aim to alleviate the financial burden on these low-producing wells but are expected to increase climate pollution. Environmental advocates argue that the move is more about benefiting oil and gas operators than boosting energy production.
The Impact of the Proposed Changes
The EPA’s draft rule, currently under review by the White House, suggests that existing regulations could force the lowest-producing wells to shut down. However, this would only eliminate 0.4% of U.S. oil and gas production, according to industry estimates. The proposed rollback is expected to save companies $42 billion through 2050, with the administration framing it as a way to unleash American energy.
Environmental advocates, however, contend that deregulating stripper wells will do little to boost energy output while significantly increasing climate pollution. Darin Schroeder of the Clean Air Task Force stated, This is not about energy dominance. It’s about padding the pockets of oil and gas operators and saddling society with the costs.
The Influence of the Oil Industry
The proposed changes are the result of a campaign by a previously low-profile faction of the oil industry that has gained significant influence during the second Trump administration. The EPA cited petitions from the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the National Stripper Well Association (NSWA) as the basis for deregulating stripper wells.
A key figure in this campaign is Jeffery Hildebrand the founder and owner of Hilcorp a privately held company known for acquiring old, poorly maintained stripper wells. Hildebrand became one of the oil industry’s biggest Trump donors after the Biden administration imposed aggressive restrictions on methane pollution in 2024. In response, Trump appointed a former Hilcorp lobbyist, Aaron Szabo to a top post at the EPA, where he oversees the effort to unravel the new methane rules.
Szabo had previously helped draft a letter opposing the methane rules on behalf of the American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC) which includes Hilcorp’s CEO on its board. He also advised on climate regulations for Project 2025 the deregulatory roadmap for the current administration. Among Project 2025’s recommendations is the elimination of an EPA program that tracks super-emitter events, which are enormous methane releases that have long plagued the oil industry.
The Broader Implications
The rules being rolled back were a key component of former President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate agenda. They aimed to cut methane pollution from the oil industry by 80%, with the EPA valuing their climate, health, and energy benefits at over $7 billion a year. Methane, which accounts for one-third of the rise in temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, breaks down relatively quickly, making its reduction one of the few ways to mitigate global warming in our lifetimes.
The EPA’s current proposal does not include calculations of the environmental and health impacts of the new rules. If implemented, the changes are expected to increase profits for oil and gas producers while reducing the public benefits of the existing regulations. Environmental advocates warn that this move could have significant consequences for climate change and public health.
