Methane Waste Costs
Taxpayers, Consumers, and Local Communities

Taxpayers lose millions every year to wasted natural gas.

Too much of the gas produced in the U.S. is lost to leaks, wasteful venting, and flares that burn day and night. This waste denies consumers access to a valuable energy resource, deprives taxpayers of royalty revenues, and adds to the growing taxpayer costs of climate change.

In 2019 alone, flaring on federal and tribal lands cost taxpayers an estimated $64 million in federal, tribal, and state royalties. And that’s just one year. Across the country, billions of cubic feet of gas are wasted annually—enough to power millions of homes. The result isn’t just lost revenue but lasting costs for public health, the environment, and local communities.

Cost-effective solutions exist. But without accountability, some operators will continue to prioritize speed over responsibility.

Here’s what accountability looks like:

Limit excessive venting and flaring so more gas reaches the market.
Charge the worst offenders a fee on methane waste to target bad actors and raise revenue.
Require public, transparent reporting on emissions so communities and taxpayers can track progress.

Learn how smarter waste rules protect taxpayers and communities:

Taxpayer Costs of Methane Emissions

When methane, a valuable energy resource, is lost during production and distribution, it is released into the air instead of being brought to market. This creates harmful pollution and costs American taxpayers and consumers.

Waste Emissions Charge: Minimizing Methane Waste Benefits American Taxpayers

Methane waste costs taxpayers and threatens fiscal responsibility. The waste emissions charge will help protect taxpayers from both financial and environmental liabilities while generating $7.2 billion in much needed revenue.

Onshore Oil and Natural Gas Operations on Federal and Tribal Lands in the United States

This analysis assesses the amount and value of wasted natural gas that occurred in 2019 from venting, flaring, and leaks on federal and tribal lands.

Gas Giveaways II: Methane Waste on Federal Lands is Business as Usual

This report provides an overview of the best available data and illustrates the magnitude of gas lost on federal lands. These losses reveal how the policies guiding DOI agencies have been failing taxpayers for decades.