"Exxon Vows to Cut Methane Leaks from US Shale Oil and Gas Operations"

"Environmentalists say Exxon's move demonstrates that the entire industry can stop methane emissions that are contributing to climate change."

"ExxonMobil said on Monday that it would take a series of steps to cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from its U.S. onshore oil and gas production. The measures will include upgrading equipment and finding and repairing leaks.

The announcement comes as the Trump administration is working to postpone and review federal rules that would require similar steps across the industry. Oil and gas trade groups sued to block those rules, saying they were too costly. Now, some environmentalists say Exxon's move undermines that argument.

"At a time when there are some companies making the argument that the sky is going to fall if they're required to take sensible action to reduce methane emissions, you have the nation's largest oil and gas producer simply moving ahead," said Mark Brownstein, vice president for climate and energy at the Environmental Defense Fund."

Nicholas Kusnetz reports for InsideClimate News September 25, 2017.