The Texas Railroad Commission passed a long-awaited ruleĀ on Friday to strengthen the construction of oil and gas wells. The rule, known as the āwell-integrity rule,ā passed by a unanimous vote among the three commissioners. It will take effect next January, and will update the commissionās requirements for the process of drilling wells, putting pipe down […]
A natural gas export boom is already taking place right under our noses.
As a drilling boom continues in Texas and other states, the U.S. finds itself with so much natural gas that some companies now want to export domestic fuels abroad. Today, the federal Department of Energy (DOE) announced approval of a second facility, the Freeport LNG Terminal on Quintana Island, to export natural gas in liquid […]
Update: The Senate unanimously approved SB 514 from the floor this afternoon, according to a representative from Sen. Davis’ office. Original Story: A bill that would reform how fracking wastewater moves to disposal wells could pass through the state Senate today. SB 514, introduced by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D- Fort Worth, would expand the […]
From the Texas Tribune: TheĀ impact of the recent boom in shale drilling is hard to miss in some remote Texas towns, where hotels and homebuilders scramble to keep up with the influx of oil and gas workers. But the most significant effect from the boom may be seen in the stateās coffers. Taxes on oil […]
From the Texas Tribune: SWEETWATER ā About a year ago, talk began circulating in this West Texas town about a huge oil-producing formation called the Cline Shale, east of the traditional drilling areas around Midland. Then the oilmen and their rigs arrived. Now homes and hotels are sprouting, āhelp wantedā signs have multiplied, and a […]
FracFocus, the online registry used by Texas and other states to disclose information about hydraulic fracturing, “creates obstacles to [regulatory] compliance” and seems “structurally skewed to delete” records, according to a report from Harvard Law School’s Environmental Law Program. The website is an integral part of the way drillers disclose what chemicals they are putting […]
Update, May 2, 2013: The Senate Bill passed on the Senate floor today, and now heads to the House. Original story, April 24, 2013:Ā SB 212, which would change the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas to the Texas Energy Resources Commission passed out committee today. The bill would also restrict campaign contributions for […]
Texas is often called the energy capital of America, so it might come as aĀ surpriseĀ that the oil and gas boom has substantially driven electric prices up in some parts of the state. And in those same areas, prices are expected to spike again this summer. To understand why, it’s best to start with the small […]
It’s crunch time at the Capitol, and legislators have precious little sand left in the hourglass to push bills out of committee. So you’ll see the pace pick up quite a bit in the coming weeks. We at StateImpact Texas have compiled a not-so-short list of important bills on energy and the environment to help […]
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