Witnessing the Legacy of Orphaned Wells: A Guided Tour with Community Leaders |
On Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, a group of community leaders from West Texas hosted a guided tour of the Permian Basin for legislative staff and concerned community members to witness firsthand the impacts of orphaned wells in Texas. A majority of these wells, which have been abandoned by defunct operators, pose significant environmental and health risks, and our aim was to shine a light on the pressing need for remediation and policy intervention. As we gathered at the starting point, there was a palpable sense of anticipation and determination among the participants…
Read Field Organizer Alyssa Wallace’s blog post to learn more, and follow along the tour! |
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Thank you for standing with us!
The decisions made at the Railroad Commission affect all Texans and have global climate impacts. Stand with us in securing the energy future of Texas by supporting Commission Shift's mission to advocate for responsible and resilient energy policies. Your donation empowers us to hold the Railroad Commission accountable, ensuring they learn from past failures and take decisive action to protect the well-being of our state and its people for generations to come.
With gratitude for your ongoing support! |
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White House CCUS Task Force - DC Visit
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Commission Shift Executive Director Virginia Palacios was appointed to the White House Council on Environmental Quality Task Force for Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) on Non-Federal Lands. On May 21-22, the Task Forces for CCUS on Federal and Non-Federal Lands held a joint meeting at USGS offices in Reston, VA. Members learned more about their duties under the USE IT Act and heard virtual public comments from four individuals. The meetings were recorded, and members of the public had the opportunity to register in advance to watch the meeting live via Zoom. The meeting agenda, USE IT Act, and the Task Force Charters are available on the U.S. Department of Energy website. Each task force is required to meet at least twice per year, and a joint meeting of the task forces will take place at least once per year. The task forces must also prepare and submit a report each year with recommendations and nationally relevant information. Virginia is interested in hearing from members of the public about any recommendations they have that are relevant to the scope of the task force. Please submit your questions and concerns here.
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| Base Leaders Meeting
We are pleased to report that we had a successful meeting with some of our impacted and engaged supporters in order to build public support to shift the Railroad Commission. Jose Corpus, organizer and language access coordinator for Commission Shift, noted that “virtual meetings are an alternative way Commission Shift can connect with and learn directly from our communities. They enable community members to express their concerns and give them the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process.” If you want to get involved with shaping the conversation on Texas’s energy future, and hold the state oil and gas agency accountable, RSVP today to our next “Community Connect” virtual meeting space!
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| Congrats to our 2024 Poster Contest Winner!
We are thrilled to announce the winner of our second annual poster contest! After careful consideration, Commission Shift staff have selected Sophia Guzman’s design titled “We Are Texas” – thank you so much to everyone who submitted! See the winning and runner-up entries here.
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Commission Shift Staff Retreat
On May 7-9th, 2024, Commission Shift held our annual staff retreat in sunny San Antonio. Our staff members work virtually and live all across the state of Texas, from El Paso to Laredo to Houston. Once a year, we come together to connect with each other in-person while evaluating our progress towards our goals and setting our course for the future.
During the retreat this year, we held sessions hosted by Commission Shift staff on our vision and planning for the next five years in alignment with our strategic plan. We can't wait to continue to share the results of this retreat with you, and collaborate on how our strengths, relationships, art, outreach, and policy can come to together to advance our mission. |
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May 29: Zapata County Water Well Screening - results and interpretation meeting 💧
June 5: Deep Dive Webinar 6: Ocean and Coastal Impacts of Carbon Waste Injection in the Gulf of Mexico 🌊
June 11: Community Connect: Shifting the Commission ✨
June 25: Railroad Commission Open Meeting ⚖️🛢️ |
This month of activity has us tuckered out but recuperating, with reform and strengthening relationships on the mind! At Commission Shift staff meetings, we will sometimes begin or close out conversations with “rose, bud, thorn” – each sharing something positive, something we are looking forward to, and a challenge. Our work is filled with bouquets and briars as we navigate Texas’s energy landscape, but our work together keeps the path rewarding. Thanks for joining us on our mission! |
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| Join our P-13 Working Group
Commission Shift is organizing a working group of interested stakeholders to discuss potential policy solutions to address problems that arise from wells drilled with Railroad Commission permits then converted to “water wells” or P-13’s. Join the working group. |
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| CCS Deep Dive Webinar Part 6: Ocean and Coastal Impacts of Carbon Waste Injection in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday June 5 RSVP.
12:00 - 1:30 PM CST.
Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Cox Operating have plans for dumping a new type of waste in the Gulf of Mexico: CO2. Learn how these new oil and gas subsidies are in conflict with stopping air pollution, nuclear decommissioning, and development of wind power in the Gulf of Mexico. With Scott Eustis, Community Science Director, Healthy Gulf.
Check out the full recordings of our previous deep dive webinars here and RSVP today!
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| RRC Open Meeting - Austin, virtual
Tuesday, June 25. RSVP. 9:30-10:30 AM CST. The Railroad Commission open, virtual meeting is an important opportunity to learn about the state oil and gas agency, or make a comment if you are impacted by abandoned or orphaned wells, or any industry-related pollution.
Meetings start at 9:30 AM CT and typically last no more than 30 minutes.
During the open meeting, Commission Shift live tweets the proceedings and answers questions on X (Twitter).
Watch the video debrief from the last open meeting.
RSVP here for reminders and links to join the next open meeting! |
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Despite investing billions of taxpayer dollars, carbon capture (CCS) has consistently failed to deliver real climate benefits. Commission Shift joined allies in a sign on letter to the EPA urging closer oversight of CCS tax credits.
Thanks to the Dallas Morning News editorial board for covering the Railroad Commission’s Monitoring and Enforcement Plan public input process. Over 150 of our supporters sent letters to the RRC calling for better oversight and more transparency! Houston Chron Newsletter agrees - “Oil and gas safety inspectors need guidance”
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The Wall Street Journal reports on environmental harm from oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin, and the San Antonio Business Journal asks “Is time running out for the Eagleford Shale?”
Relevant news stories on all areas of our work and Railroad Commission activity can be found on our website. 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
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