OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation | Senate confirms EPA chief: Biden's climate goals are 'an opportunity to lead' | Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research

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Today we’re looking at the Senate’s vote to repeal the Trump administration’s rule on methane emissions, EPA Administrator Michael ReganMichael ReganOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland reverses Trump effort on tribal land | Senate confirms Janet McCabe as deputy EPA chief | Study finds quick action on methane could significantly cut into global warming Senate confirms Janet McCabe as deputy EPA chief OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court considers whether US should pay for Guam hazardous waste cleanup | EPA eyes reversal of Trump revocation of California vehicle emissions waiver | Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes MORE’s testimony on the Biden administration’s budget request, and research on the disproportionate racial impact of fine particulate matter.

METHANE ON THE BRAIN: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation

The Senate voted Wednesday to undo a Trump administration rule that rescinded methane emissions limits and made it harder to regulate releases of the greenhouse gas from the oil and gas sector.

In the 52-42 vote, three Republicans voted with Democrats to get rid of the rule: Sens. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanModerate Republicans leery of Biden’s renewed call for unity Biden makes case for sweeping change Here are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule MORE (Ohio), Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHere are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation | Senate confirms EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’ | Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research Senate votes to nix Trump rule limiting methane regulation MORE (S.C.) and Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsHere are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation | Senate confirms EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’ | Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research Senate votes to nix Trump rule limiting methane regulation MORE (Maine).

The methane rule is the first Trump-era rule that Democrats are taking on using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a tool that lets them eliminate regulations completed in the prior 60 legislative days with a simple majority vote.

“The fact that we are using our first CRA on the methane rule shows how important it is and shows the difference in having a Democratic majority when it comes to climate change,” Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenate hears from Biden’s high-profile judicial nominees for first time Nonprofit with ties to Biden 2020 campaign rolls out voting rights initiative USDA denies Biden trying to limit red meat: ‘This is a fabrication’ MORE (D-N.Y.) said in a press conference ahead of the vote.

What did the rule do?: The rule in question got rid of methane emission standards for the oil and gas sector altogether, and also got rid of limits for substances known as volatile organic compounds from oil and gas transmission and storage.

When it promoted the rule under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that it would increase methane emissions by 400,000 short tons over the next decade.

The rule’s opponents argued that on top of that, it’s particularly pernicious because it would make it harder to regulate methane by requiring the EPA to prove that the releases from each type of emitter that it regulates contribute significantly to climate change.

Read more about the vote here:

BY REQUEST: EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan appeared at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Wednesday, answering questions about the status of investigations into Trump-era moves at the agency and the Biden administration’s carbon emissions targets.

In a hearing on the EPA’s budget request for fiscal 2022, Regan said the administration’s discretionary funding request of $11.2 billion “recognizes the profound urgency and existential threat of the climate crisis” and “reflects the understanding that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are not mutually exclusive, they actually go hand in hand.”

Sen. James InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeSenate confirms Pentagon policy chief criticized by Republicans for tweets Top general concerned about Afghan forces after US troops leave Harris casts tiebreaking vote to advance Biden nominee MORE (R-Okla.) questioned Regan on the White House’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions by half in the next nine years as the country’s nationally-determined contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement. Inhofe noted that China, the world’s largest emitter, did not commit to similar reductions and has said its emissions peak is still to come.

Regan responded that emissions reduction goals were not simply a sacrifice but “an opportunity to lead in technological advancements and create jobs, [and] the market is trending directionally in this way.”

Next steps on probes into political interference: Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseBiden, progressives face high states in big speech Senate Democrats push Biden over raising refugee cap Overnight Energy: Biden reportedly will pledge to halve US emissions by 2030 | Ocasio-Cortez, Markey reintroduce Green New Deal resolution MORE (D-R.I.) asked Regan about the findings of Office of Inspector General (IG) probes into potential political interference into scientific processes under the Trump administration.

“I think we’re taking a careful look at what the IG reports reveal to us, which are alarming,” Regan replied, adding, “We’re following the advice of our science and doing a complete review of many of the regulations that were put forward in the previous administration and doing a full accounting.”