"The state of Texas on Friday sued the Biden administration over an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule restricting methane emissions finalized earlier Friday morning.

The lawsuit was requested in late January by the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s primary oil and gas regulator, while the rule was still being finalized. In a request to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), the commission asked for legal action on the rule. Paxton responded Friday with a legal petition against the federal rule.

The EPA estimates the rule, first announced in 2023, could cut up to 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038. It adds more stringent requirements for practices such as flaring and plugging leaks. While methane dissipates from the atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide, it is far more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere."

Zack Budryk reports for The Hill March 8, 2024. [2]