Trump plans to loosen restrictions on methane emissions from oil drilling

Billings, Montana (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to announce Tuesday plans to relax a Biden-era regulation targeting methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. This announcement is expected during Trump's campaign stop in Texas, according to an administration official who wished to remain anonymous. The move is aimed at stimulating domestic drilling, as Trump faces scrutiny over rising fuel prices during the U.S. conflict in Iran.

Methane leaks from oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of this potent greenhouse gas, which has gained urgency as a global climate change mitigation strategy. The cuts in methane emissions have been a priority in recent years to curb the rate of climate change.