West Virginia lawmakers, from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to the state House Energy and Manufacturing Committee, are siding with and pushing pro-gas and oil industry measures despite heavy costs to consumers and taxpayers. Manchin has opposed a White House liquefied natural gas, or LNG, pause while state lawmakers have advanced bills aimed at protecting the industry.
The West Virginia House of Delegates Energy and Manufacturing Committee approved a bill viewed as a legal shield for Diversified Energy Company, the nation s largest gas and oil well owner. The bill would loosen gas well-plugging regulation.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it has set aside $37.7 million for West Virginia, the nation’s fourth-largest producer of marketed natural gas production, to lower methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.