President Biden‘s pledge at the Glasgow climate summit to help slash methane emissions by 30 percent over the next nine years faces the significant obstacle of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who could embarrass the administration if he slaps down a proposal to tax methane.

The methane fee was rumored to have been jettisoned from the reconciliation package, and Democratic senators such as Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) have redoubled their effort to get it included.

But there is no deal yet, and Manchin is warning he won’t support anything that would penalize the oil and natural gas industries.

Democratic lawmakers viewed a tax on methane emissions as potentially easier to pass through the Senate than a tax on carbon emissions, but it now looks like including either proposal in the Build Back Better Act will be a heavy lift because of Manchin.

Policy experts and Democratic aides in Congress warn Biden will lose credibility on climate change with global leaders if he is unable to overcome Manchin’s skepticism over taxing methane… (Excerpts from the Hill)

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