Valerie Volcovici and Nichola Garoom

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A total of 30 facilities in the Permian basin, Texas, and New Mexico, emitted large quantities of methane over three years. This was equivalent to half a million cars emitting climate pollution, according Monday’s report.

These facilities include compressor stations, compressor stations, well pads and pipelines. They were also observed to be “persistently emitting large quantities of methane” over three years of aerial survey by Carbon Mapper and the Environmental Defense Fund.

The so-called superemitters, located in America’s most productive oil fields, not only make up.001% of Permian Basin oil and gas infrastructure, but also emit about 100,000 tonnes of methane each year.

According to the report, this means companies have an opportunity to fix leaks immediately and help meet U.S. methane reduction goals and reduce escaped emissions by around $26 millions

Riley Duren is the CEO of Carbon Mapper. He’s also a University of Arizona researcher.

These large emissions sources were identified in the report as a result of a variety infrastructures, oil and gas companies and other operators within the Permian Basin.

Climate change is caused mainly by methane, which ranks second after carbon dioxide. Because of its high heat-trapping capacity and short life span in the atmosphere, Methane’s emissions could have a significant impact on climate change.

In a federal regulation that targets methane from old oil and gas plants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced it last year. This proposal is open for public comment through January 31, and it will be supplemented this spring with measures that address routine flaring, smaller wells and other methane emissions.

Additionally, the United States signed a voluntary international methane pledge together with approximately 100 other countries. This commitment required that methane levels be slashed by 30% in eight years.

New Mexico is home to a portion of the Permian basinin. It has finalized its rules for March. These require that companies regularly inspect their production and processing facilities.