Bill Overview
Title: Methane Emissions Mitigation Research and Development Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a research consortium and a technical assistance program for states, localities, or for-profit entities to develop technologies, methods, and strategies to detect and mitigate methane emissions.
Sponsors: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by methane emissions and its mitigation
Estimated Size: 300000000
- Methane emissions are a significant contributor to climate change affecting global populations.
- Technological advancements in detecting and mitigating methane will impact energy sectors worldwide.
- The agricultural sector, a significant source of methane emissions, is global and involves a large number of people, including farmers and workers.
- Developing and implementing new technologies and strategies will require workforce training, impacting individuals in research, engineering, and related fields.
- The impact on climate change mitigation indirectly affects every individual's well-being across the world.
Reasoning
- The policy targets technological advancements and implementation of methods to control methane emissions, which are highly relevant to energy and agricultural sectors in the US. This implies that individuals in these sectors, such as farmers, energy workers, and researchers, might be directly affected.
- Given the broad scope of methane's impact on climate change, even indirect beneficiaries like average citizens who might experience better air quality can be considered in the impact analysis.
- Since the budget is constrained, a small portion of the population will likely experience high impact. Many will have low to no direct personal impact but will contribute to or benefit from improved environmental conditions over the longer term.
- The impact on Cantril Wellbeing scores should be distributed across various professions and demographics to capture the policy's reach. We will include frontline workers and people from sectors responsible for methane emissions, individuals in innovation and tech development roles, and some representative citizens from less directly impacted areas.
Simulated Interviews
Oil and gas engineer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Excited about potential tech advances, could improve efficiency and safety in my work.
- Concerned about possible job disruptions but see potential for new roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Environmental researcher (Davis, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great to see funding potentially coming to research.
- Concern about long-term sustainability of projects without continuous funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Tech startup entrepreneur (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding could accelerate our growth and tech deployment.
- Regulations could increase market demand, a positive shift for our startup.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Corn farmer (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help us move towards more sustainable practices.
- Costs and practicality are a concern, but tech assistance might help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Navy officer (Norfolk, Virginia)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good that the government is tackling emissions more seriously.
- I'm skeptical about how much it will benefit my daily life immediately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see efforts in reducing emissions. Could inspire my students.
- I hope it leads to meaningful change, but budget seems limited.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Policy analyst (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might set important precedents for future regulations.
- Worried about adequate enforcement and oversight given budget limitations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Mechanical engineer (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could bring more job opportunities for engineers focused on renewable solutions.
- I hope it doesn't lead to job losses in traditional drilling sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Air quality scientist (Miami, Florida)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could lead to breakthroughs in urban air quality monitoring.
- An overall improvement is expected but worried about implementation timelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Venture capitalist (San Francisco, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Excited for opportunities to invest in emission-reduction tech.
- Policy might lead to increased competition, which is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 5: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the consortium in developing viable technologies will significantly influence the ultimate success of the policy.
- There will be a need for close collaboration with private entities to accelerate tech adoption and scaling.
- The potential global leadership role the US could play in methane mitigation technologies if successful.