The Electric Grid is Sweating

After wrapping up the hottest July on record in Texas, we’ve been slammed with flooding and severe weather throughout the state. The electric grid has been tested, and there were some close calls. On Aug. 22nd the Railroad Commission issued a 7-day severe weather outlook notice to operators expecting a multi-day heavy rain event. Texas not only produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other state, contributing significantly to our country’s rank as the second-highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, but also leads the U.S. in total cumulative costs from billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.

 

We continue to monitor the grid and work toward stronger safeguards to protect our communities.

The Railroad Commission could approve a new weatherization rule for the natural gas supply chain at their  August 30th Open Meeting. A lack of weather proofing is what led to widespread power outages during the deadly winter storms of 2021.Thanks to everyone who submitted comments on the weatherization rule draft. You can check out Commission Shift's take and our official comments to the Railroad Commission here and here.

 

You can RSVP to join the Tuesday, August 30th open meeting here.

Last month we traveled to Dallas for the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) Texas-New Mexico convention.  We hear all the time from land and mineral owners concerned about inadequate oversight from the Railroad Commission, and this conference was a great opportunity to meet people and get them engaged. Are you a land, mineral, or royalty owner who wants to learn more about Commission Shift? What are your biggest concerns? Let us know.

 

This month, Deputy Director Maria Reyes and Executive Director Virginia Palacios attended the Railroad Commission Regulatory Conference in Austin where they had the opportunity to hear about the new Critical Infrastructure Division and learn about concerns operators were facing in implementing the Railroad Commission’s proposed new weatherization standards.

 

Meanwhile Advocacy Director Tannya Benavides attended the House Committee on Natural Resources meeting on August 24th to discuss the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds on plugging and cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells in Texas, and how we can reduce the backlog of unplugged wells going forward.

 

As we push through August, we are looking ahead to a busy season before the 2023 legislative session. Remember there’s also an important election this fall, so be sure you are registered to vote and remind your friends and family not to skip the Railroad Commissioner race on the ballot.

 

Thank you for being part of our effort to reform the Railroad Commission of Texas. Together we can make this a stronger agency that plans for our energy future and puts people and the environment first.

We’re pleased to welcome Sarah Jordan “S.J.” Stout to the Commission Shift staff as our first Digital Communications Associate. S.J. joins us from Texas Campaign for the Environment, she worked on various digital campaigns, from building public support for city-wide climate solutions to advocacy for fixing the Texas energy grid. S.J. is based in Houston and holds a Masters degree in Literature from West Virginia University and completed coursework toward a PhD in Literature at Rice University. In her free time, S.J. likes to read, make art, ramble outside, and scour Houston for the perfect fried pickle.

Railroad Commission Open Meeting

Austin - August 30, 2022

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The Railroad Commissioners will have the opportunity to make several big decisions at Tuesday’s Open Meeting: 

• Ashley Williams Watt contesting RRC staff’s determination that leaking wells on her property were compliant with the commission’s water protection rules.
• First-ever contest to staff’s determination that a company’s facilities do not qualify for an exception to designation as critical infrastructure during an energy emergency. 
• The new critical infrastructure rule was approved November 2021. At this meeting staff could present proposed amendments to the rule.
• Legislative Appropriations Request for FY 2024 - 2025.
• Update on and possible adoption of the commission’s proposed weatherization rule.
• Update on and possible adoption of the commission’s proposed carbon dioxide rule, and application to the EPA to be the sole permitting authority in Texas for Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells.

Texas Groundwater Summit

San Antonio - August 30 - September 1, 2022

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Commission Shift is sponsoring the Texas Groundwater Summit - “the premier groundwater event in the state, bringing together a diverse group of groundwater professionals over three days to discuss emerging trends and new research.”

El Organizador Comunitario implementará estrategias de organización de bases en múltiples regiones de petróleo y gas en el estado de Texas, e identificar y construir relaciones con comunidades hispanohablantes afectadas por el desarrollo de petróleo y gas que han sufrido una carencia de accesibilidad lingüísticas. Esto incluirá la educación y la generación de apoyo público para poder responsabilizar a la Comisión de Ferrocarriles de Texas de su misión durante esta transición de energía en el estado.

 

Se busca alguien basado en una región de Texas que produce petróleo o gas natural como el esquisto Eagle Ford o Permian Basin. Se considerarán otras ubicaciones. El salario será entre $50,000 y $55,000 al año dependiendo de la experiencia. Habrá que viajar y tener un record limpio de manejar vehículos. Visite nuestra página web para mayor información y para solicitar.

 

Community Organizer: Implement grassroots organizing strategies in multiple oil and gas regions across the state of Texas and to identify and build relationships with Spanish-preferred communities affected by oil and gas development who need language accommodation from the Railroad Commission. This will include educating and building public support to hold the Railroad Commission of Texas accountable to its mission in a shifting energy landscape.

This position can be based anywhere in Texas, but preferably in an oil and gas producing region such as the Eagle Ford Shale or Permian Basin. The salary range is $50,000 - $55,000 depending on experience. Travel and clean driving record required. Full details and application instructions here. Vea en español. 

• As part of its ongoing series about carbon capture and storage, Inside Climate News quoted Executive Director Virginia Palacios on the oil giant Occidental Petroleum seeking school tax breaks in Kleberg and Ector Counties for massive direct air capture facilities designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the ambient air. They plan to use the CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. The article also appeared in the San Antonio News Express and Texas Tribune.
• Texas Climate News ran a story featuring a peer-reviewed study co-authored by Executive Director Virginia Palacios about natural gas leaks occurring at higher rates in communities that had higher rates of low-income populations or people of color.
• KENS5 TV interviewed Commission Shift about why energy bills are spiking for Texans.
• A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article looked at the way drillers play games to avoid responsibility for cleaning up orphan wells, including a discussion of Commission Shift’s work on this issue.

Find more coverage on our news page.

Be sure to follow Commission Shift on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

 

Commission Shift
212 Flores Avenue
Laredo, TX 78040
United States

 

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