IPL NM & El Paso Thanks the New Mexico Congressional Delegation for Voting Against Undermining the Waste Emissions Charge

The US Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution in a 52-47 vote along party lines, introducing uncertainty into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) methane polluter fee—also known as the Waste Emissions Charge. While the resolution blocks the implementation of the fee, the legal requirement for the charge remains, leaving oil and gas operators in a state of confusion about compliance.

The methane fee is a critical piece of the Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP), established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and signed into law by former President Biden. This program is designed to curb methane pollution, improve air quality, and protect public health while holding major polluters accountable for excessive emissions.

Prior to the Senate vote, the House passed the resolution in a 220-206 vote, with support from several Democrats. The measure now heads to President Trump’s desk, jeopardizing years of work by New Mexico communities and environmental advocates who have long fought for strong safeguards against methane waste. The fee applies only to oil and gas companies exceeding industry-established emissions thresholds, encouraging them to fix leaks, adopt cleaner technology, minimize routine flaring, and improve monitoring. The EPA projected that full implementation of the Waste Emissions Charge would have eliminated over a million metric tons of methane by 2035, significantly reducing waste while fostering job growth in the clean energy sector.

Despite bipartisan support for the CRA resolution, New Mexico’s entire congressional delegation opposed the measure, standing firm against what many see as another concession to industry polluters. Environmental and faith-based organizations, including New Mexico and El Paso Interfaith Power & Light, expressed gratitude for their leadership in prioritizing environmental stewardship and public well-being.

“People of faith in New Mexico believe that caring for communities, and our sacred water, air, and land is an ethical and moral responsibility. For more than 10 years, people of faith and conscience in New Mexico have worked for strong methane safeguards. Thank you to the NM delegation for recognizing that the Waste Emissions Charge is important and would have helped companies be more responsible for the Common Good. We are all called to be good neighbors and to care for God’s creation and one another. This was one simple and effective way to make sure that business is responsible.”
– Sister Joan Brown, OSF, Community Advocate, New Mexico and El Paso Interfaith Power & Light

As the resolution awaits the president’s decision, New Mexico advocates remain committed to ensuring strong methane protections, reinforcing the need for responsible industry practices that prioritize people and the planet over short-term corporate interests.