The administration of President Joe Biden said last week it will provide a total of $1.15 billion to states to cap and clean abandoned oil and gas wells in its effort to reduce U.S. emissions and improve health and safety of nearby communities. U.S. Department of Interior said 26 states are eligible to apply for funding. Each state will be allocated an initial grant of $25 million, and additional funding will be based on documented wells, estimated cost of plugging wells, and number of jobs lost between March 2020 and November 2021. Reuters said Texas will receive $107.5 million – the most of any state – and Santa Fe New Mexican said New Mexico will receive $43.7 million. Department of Interior said Jan. 31 it found more than 130,000 documented orphaned wells in U.S.