The state of Texas sued the Biden administration on Friday over an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that limits methane emissions, which was finalized earlier Friday morning.
In late January, the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's main oil and gas regulator, asked for legal action on the rule while it was still being finalized. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) responded to the commission's request on Friday by filing a legal petition against the federal rule.
The EPA predicts that the rule, which was first announced in 2023, could reduce up to 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038. It introduces stricter requirements for practices such as flaring and fixing leaks. While methane disappears from the atmosphere more quickly than carbon dioxide, it is much more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
In February, the Railroad Commission criticized the rule, calling it "extremely unreasonable and time-consuming," despite significant improvements in reducing methane emissions in the state.
The commission stated that the new rules would place an excessive burden on regulators and the oil and gas industry by requiring further emission reductions in remote, unmanned locations.
Environmental advocacy and legal groups strongly criticized the commission's decision and Paxton's office's complaint, highlighting the dangers associated with methane.
Maggie Coulter, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, stated, "The EPA’s strict methane rule will lead to substantial reductions in this harmful pollution, and we are prepared to defend it in court against the Texas lawsuit or any unfounded industry attacks. For too long, oil and gas companies have been allowed to release and ignore leaks of this extremely potent greenhouse gas, and that must end. While curbing methane pollution is crucial, it must be part of a larger plan to combat the climate crisis through a rapid, fair shift to renewable energy."
An EPA spokesperson informed The Hill that the agency does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
— Updated at 4:45 p.m.
