Energy Transfer, a major U.S. natural gas pipeline operator, has once again been ranked as the top source of methane emissions in a new report from UCLA's Stop Methane Project. The report, based on satellite observations from Tanager-1 and Carbon Mapper, found 75 plumes from Energy Transfer facilities, three times more than the second-ranked operator. Two ET sites made the top 10, including one in Shreveport, LA and one in Pecos County, TX. The report also notes that benzene and other harmful pollutants are often co-emitted with methane, posing health risks to nearby communities. The findings come as the Trump administration has rolled back methane regulations, which critics say allows such emissions to continue unchecked. Energy Transfer has also pursued a $345 million lawsuit against Greenpeace, which some see as an attempt to silence criticism. The report's methodology excludes sites with fewer than three observed plumes, and the authors say the absence of recent emissions at the Shreveport site suggests possible mitigation efforts.
