Colorado State University and Colorado-based Pioneer Energy Inc. receive funding for six methane monitoring and reduction projects
Funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and is part of $850 Million distributed nationwide
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet welcomed $850 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Methane Emissions Reduction Program to fund projects that reduce methane emissions and combat climate change, including $341 million for six Colorado-based projects. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, which Hickenlooper and Bennet helped pass into law.
“Methane emissions are driving our climate crisis and putting Coloradans’ health at risk,” said Hickenlooper. “As governor, we set the global standard on methane regulations. Now Colorado will lead the fight to stop these emissions at the source – all thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act.”
“Colorado has been a national leader in addressing methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,” said Bennet. “This funding helps ensure Colorado will continue leading the way towards cutting dangerous air pollution, slowing the rate of climate change, and growing our clean energy economy.”
Methane is a climate pollutant many times more potent than carbon dioxide, especially in the near-term. Human-caused methane emissions are responsible for at least 25 percent of the climate warming we are experiencing today.
In total, the EPA announced over $850 million for 43 projects, with over $341 million going to two Colorado organizations. Information on the Colorado projects is available below.
| Organization | Location | # of Projects funded | Purpose | Total Funding Amount |
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO | 3 | Reduce methane emissions from existing wells, improve data monitoring of methane emissions | $324.67 million |
| Pioneer Energy, Inc. | Lakewood, CO | 3 | Deploy technologies that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production | $17 million |
As governor, Hickenlooper brought together environmentalists and the oil industry to create the world’s first methane regulations. Those regulations were used by President Obama as a model for national standards which in turn were used as a basis for the international methane pledge in 2021.
Hickenlooper and Bennet have consistently worked to cut methane emissions and strengthen federal oil and gas methane rules, modeled on Colorado’s. In 2021, Hickenlooper and Bennet led members of the Colorado congressional delegation to push the EPA for stronger methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. In 2023, the senators sent multiple letters to the EPA urging them to more accurately track methane emissions. In October, Hickenlooper celebrated the announcement of $162.3 million in loan guarantees from the Inflation Reduction Act to support the fabrication and installation of a real time methane emissions monitoring network across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota, and New Mexico.
More information on the Colorado projects is available HERE.
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