Energy Department Exploring Clean Natural Gas Designation

Politico Pro

February 24, 2023

The Energy Department is exploring a plan to offer a government endorsement for natural gas that meets a minimum standard for cleanliness — a move aimed at helping U.S. gas producers maintain sales even as nations ratchet down fossil fuels dependency to address climate change, two industry sources familiar with the plan said.

A number of companies have sprung up to certify the carbon footprint of natural gas collected in Texas, New Mexico and other places, but there is no federal government program verifying the legitimacy of these private sector efforts.

The DOE effort would set a minimum standard that has to be met to help build confidence in the marketplace, said one industry executive briefed on the plan.