The expansion of the methane mitigation industry across the United States is turning a ‘$2 billion waste problem into an economic opportunity’, the Environmental Defense Fund has said.
According to recent findings from Datu Research, businesses that are manufacturing technology and providing services to mitigate the environmental impact of methane are experiencing strong economic growth.
“These companies are creating high-quality jobs and stronger local economies by helping operators reduce waste and capture lost revenue,” commented Matthew Garrington, senior director of U.S. methane advocacy at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Strong state and federal policies have created regulatory certainty leading to investment in methane mitigation technology and job creation.”
Significant growth
According to Datu Research, the methane mitigation sector has seen significant growth in recent years, with the number of manufacturing firms rising by 88% over the past decade, while the number of service firms grew by 105% between 2017 and 2024.
Datu Research’s ‘Growing Strong’ report also found that the number of methane mitigation manufacturing and service firms increased 24% between 2021 and 2024, from 215 to 268 firms, and the number of employee locations increased 39% from 748 to 1,040. Many of these are small businesses, it noted.
“The 2025 analysis shows how the methane mitigation industry is turning waste into economic value,” added Marcy Lowe, Datu Research. “The U.S. is a beacon of innovation demonstrating how we can reduce methane emissions and boost economic growth while protecting our environment and public health.”
Elsewhere, Isaac Brown, executive director of the Center for Methane Emissions Solutions, noted that that reducing methane emissions both benefits the environment as well as strengthening local businesses.
“Cutting methane emissions is a smart investment that strengthens both businesses and local economies,” he said. “The U.S. methane mitigation industry is thriving, creating high-quality, well-paying jobs while helping oil and gas producers reduce waste, improve efficiency and boost their bottom line.” Read more here.
