Texas Rubber‑Stamps Methane Flaring

A first-of-its-kind analysis finds the Texas Railroad Commission rejected just 53 of more than 12,000 applications to burn or vent gas, effectively permitting routine methane releases. This lax enforcement undercuts claims that U.S. oil production is cleaner than competitors, while also forfeiting millions in taxable gas and exposing nearby communities to toxic co-pollutants. — It reframes U.S. 'clean energy dominance' talk by showing that regulatory practice, not just technology, determines emissions and revenue outcomes.