Voting is an important part of the democratic process and of our American – and Texan – identity. The ability to vote, to choose who represents our interests and needs in a decision making capacity, is a right and a privilege. For too many, taking time to learn about candidates and access a polling location is an overly complicated process.
Commission Shift values good government, that state agencies should be ethical, proactive, transparent, accessible, and accountable to the people and places they serve. We also believe in inclusive decision making, so that landowners, mineral owners, and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, languages, races, ethnicities, and geographies across Texas have a right to inform the decisions that affect their lives.
Realizing those values at the Railroad Commission of Texas means that the Texas Legislature has an obligation to change the name of the agency in order to better reflect the agency's goal and purpose. Doing so would be a great service to voters and everyone who lives in Texas.
Having a strong democracy includes more than showing up to the polls. We look forward to collaborating with all of the commissioners through the commission’s regular Open Meetings, rulemaking processes, and other hearings, and we hope to involve many more Texans in these opportunities. We also look forward to participating in the upcoming legislative session to promote the many changes that are needed at the Railroad Commission and that must be addressed through state law.
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-Virginia Palacios
Executive Director
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EPA Carbon Capture and Storage Symposium
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invited our Executive Director, Virginia Palacios, to present at a recent workshop in Corpus Christi about community and environmental justice concerns with the Railroad Commission’s approach to Class VI carbon dioxide injection well permitting.
Carbon capture in Texas – and the RRC’s pursuit of total control over permitting and regulating carbon dioxide injection wells in Texas – is gaining more attention.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is currently seeking “primacy” from the EPA to be the primary permitting and regulatory authority in Texas for carbon dioxide injection wells. Commission Shift is opposing the RRC’s primacy application because of its failures in overseeing its Class II injection well program, which primarily applies to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and wastewater injection wells. Numerous threats to underground sources of drinking water in Pecos County have likely been worsened by massive volumes of Class II underground injection in the area.
The recent 5.4 magnitude earthquake stemming from Reeves County and felt in El Paso, San Antonio, and Carlsbad, New Mexico underscores the danger and urgency of the problem . Seismic events in the area have previously been linked to underground injection. Out of 587 wastewater disposal well permits the RRC granted in 2021, 400 were in the Permian Basin.
You can read more about Commission Shift’s take on the RRC’s primacy application on our Public Participation page, testimony, and press releases.
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Commission Shift at the Capitol
Thank you to everyone who has signed up - we are enjoying working with you!
Commission Shift is scheduling meetings with lawmakers on our key issues including oil & gas development, stewardship of land & natural resources, ethics, and the name of the Railroad Commission. These meetings are an important foundation for our 2023 legislative strategy.
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Support Commission Shift this Giving Tuesday
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Commission Shift is the only organization with the sole focus of reforming the Railroad Commission of Texas - one of the most important state energy agencies in the country.
Your support allows us to continue outreach and education in order to build public support to hold the Railroad Commission of Texas accountable to its mission in a shifting energy landscape! Please donate today.
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Thank you for being part of our effort to reform oil and gas oversight in Texas. Together we can make the Railroad Commission of Texas a stronger agency that plans for our energy future and puts people and the environment first.
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Nov. 28th & 29th: Legislative meetings with Commission Shift in Austin
Nov. 29th & 30th: Annual National Landowners Conference hosted by Property Rights and Pipeline Center in New Orleans
Dec. 1st & 2nd: Annual Pipeline Safety Trust Conference in New Orleans: The Future of Pipeline Safety – Technology, Tools, and Transition
Dec. 13th: Railroad Commission Open Meeting
Feb. 15th: Poster Contest Deadline
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Dec. 13th - Railroad Commission Open Meeting in Austin/Virtual
RSVP here for reminders and a link to the virtual livestream.
November Open Meeting Debrief
Meet us on Twitter - Commission Shift will debrief after the open meeting using “Twitter Space” - a live audio chat room. You don’t need a Twitter account to join, just click the shared link. Commission Shift experts will be there to discuss the decisions from the meeting, and their implication, as well as answer any questions.
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Announcing Commission Shift Poster Contest
To celebrate our mission, second year milestones, and a new (forthcoming!) website, Commission Shift is launching a poster contest!
Submissions can come from anyone based in Texas, and should reflect images and messages around our mission statement and values, or any of our education and outreach programs centered on reforming the Railroad Commission:
- Energy transition: oil and gas well plugging and cleanup, and carbon capture and storage
- Public participation, civic engagement, and language access
- Ethics and conflicts of interest at the Railroad Commission
- Preparing the grid and utility customers for extreme weather
First place will receive an $800 prize and inclusion in our annual report, and runner up will receive $200. Deadline to submit is February 15!
Full details and submission instructions here.
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Policy Manager:
Commission Shift is seeking applications to fill two Policy Manager positions based in Austin, who will serve as subject matter experts on two or more focus areas related to our mission including, but not limited to: CCUS, orphaned wells, oil and gas waste disposal, ethics, campaign finance, public participation and language accessibility.
The Policy Managers will report to the Deputy Director and will collaborate with the organizing team, communications team, and research consultants to develop key strategies and policy positions for the organization.
These individuals will attend virtual and in-person meetings at the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Legislature, and other agencies as needed. They will also interact with relevant stakeholders and coalitions to better understand the issues and develop strategies and recommendations. The salary is $60,000 to $70,000, depending on experience. Full details and application instructions here.
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Pecos County rancher, Schuyler Wight, commented in a story with CBS7 (Midland-Odessa) about the increasing number of inactive oil and gas well blowouts on his land.
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West Texas recently experienced one of their largest earthquakes ever. Wastewater disposal wells and other injection activity – overseen by the Railroad Commission – are the likely cause: “Wastewater disposal companies are some of the top contributors to railroad commissioners’ campaigns,'' Commission Shift told Inside Climate News.
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The Midland Reporter-Telegram covered the RRC adopting amendments to weatherization rule along with Commission Shift’s analysis.
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Commission Shift’s work was also recently featured in Nonprofit Quarterly - “How Can We Make Public Commissions More Democratic?”
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Utility rate hikes, partially from Winter Storm Uri, are beginning to take effect. The Railroad Commission has the final say on passing these rates onto Texas consumers, who already suffered once during the storm.
Find more coverage on our news page.
P.S. Be sure to follow Commission Shift on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
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Commission Shift
212 Flores Avenue
Laredo, TX 78040
United States
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