Biden Administration Announces $1.15 Billion for States to Create Jobs Cleaning Up Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address legacy pollution and spur economic growth SUMMARY: Orphan wells are abandoned oil or gas wells that leak methane, causing potential hazard and harm to animals and environmental pollution. Companies that cease drilling leave the sites "unplugged" due to the expense of plugging them. The federal government has set aside finds to help states with vacated well sites close them properly. WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced $1.15 billion in funding is available to states from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create jobs cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells across the country. This is a key initiative of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated a total of $4.7 billion to create a new federal program to address orphan wells. Millions of Americans across the country live within a mile of an orphaned oil and gas well. Orphaned wells are polluting backyards, re...