The latest Texas Railroad Commission news from The Texas Tribune.
Oil and gas industry groups provided a list of names to the Railroad Commission for appointment to a council formed in response to the February power crisis. All four of the industry's top choices were selected. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/01054246555fec02b69210766bc5d8e3/San%20Antonio%20Power%20Plant%20SP%20TT%2003.jpg)
The law says the state's natural gas system won't be required to prepare for extreme weather until 2022 at the earliest and allows companies to opt out of weatherization requirements. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/646535c4b955ef4e0f85a16b87d158c0/Winter%20Storm%20McKinney%20ST%20TT%2006.jpg)
Texas lawmakers passed major bills in response to the winter storm power outages that killed hundreds of Texans in February. But there’s still a lot to do. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0ef6483c3328a127b4ef5e3b4927ddea/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20EL%20TT%2004)
Members of the Texas Railroad Commission were quick to blame renewable energy for power outages across the state. All sources of energy struggled to produce power during the storm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/750ff833178507892c33f392711c6c35/RBJ%20Center%20Storm%20MM%20TT%2024.jpg)
Power outages during a winter storm have the Texas Legislature considering remedies — and a flaw in their response to a previous storm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/326dbd337d2f285eb110328f027be33a/DTX%20Storm%20Recovery%20ST%20TT%2002.jpg)
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy wants to build 10 electric plants in Texas, for use when demand peaks or other plants falter. And it’s the first time a price tag has been attached to a remedy since last month’s deadly storm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34d7e55a9a68eab2e654100018f460c2/Warren%20Buffet%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
The wide-ranging proposal includes a number of reforms that have been floating around the state Capitol since last month’s deadly winter storm left millions without electricity during freezing temperatures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27f2bc4893b9f60afd194c1f224460d6/RBJ%20Center%20Storm%20MM%20TT%2022.jpg)
Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick and her father have financial ties to oil and gas. Other state officials who have oversight over the industry also had significant financial interests in it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f80380bb7480859c40ef44db063a4fc/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2011.jpg)
Dozens of natural gas companies failed to do the paperwork that would keep their facilities powered during an emergency, so utilities cut their electricity at the very moment that power plants most needed fuel. The mid-storm scramble to fix the problem exposed a regulatory blind spot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1bab4b78f51d326e4904a4b31067cc3/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
Politically powerful natural gas production and transportation companies, along with their regulators, appear to have so far escaped the wrath of the governor and the Legislature in the aftermath of the Texas power outages. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/331f7b7743e7785f0500d40c04901b07/Natural%20Gas%20Flare%20JF%20TT%2002.jpg)
Lawmakers will continue asking a litany of officials and executives how last week's power outages happened. Legislators in both chambers spent more than 12 hours investigating the disruptions Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35e1657aabc96e7bb8b90a423b6f5452/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2012.jpg)
Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0bb3e3da33232820654479ca024f11b3/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2006.jpg)
A recent EPA decision will allow Texas to regulate water discharges from oil drilling operations. Some lawmakers see a future water supply for the state in the decision, while environmental groups — and some scientists — warn it could be risky. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/56f4f09ed5ba4d37ab5af0f2b2d2c44a/frac_water_pond_w_chainlink_fence_MKC_TT.jpg)
This year proved another disappointment for Texas Democrats, who underperformed the high expectations they had set for themselves, particularly in a hotly contested battle for dominance in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5986aff3c4b4411a42c8b6eeeccead28/Cornyn%20Bus%20Tour%20AI%20TT%2005.jpg)
Wright defeated Democrat Chrysta Castañeda. The commission's elected, three-member board has been entirely Republican for at least 25 years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5cd3dbadfce119571a0fefb345bd107b/James%20Jim%20Wright%20FB%20TT.jpg)
With attention on Texas races up and down the ballot, a virtually unknown Republican candidate and big-time donations to the Democratic nominee, Democrats think they have a shot of winning a seat on the Railroad Commission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/334b9062fd35e1c748de50ce5fb4d428/Railroad%20Commissioner%20Seal%20TT.jpg)
The New York billionaire donated to Chrysta Castañeda in her bid to flip a seat on the all-GOP commission that regulates Texas' oil and gas industry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/47f734505f6599caca54c4dd986cf4c5/Bloomberg%20Houston%20CJ%20TT%2016.jpg)
Democrats won legal rulings Wednesday blocking Green Party nominees for U.S. Senate, railroad commissioner and the 21st Congressional District from appearing on the November ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff98cd99712783bc01a1cea43ed73d1e/Green%20Party%20Shirts%20MS%20TT.jpg)
Craddick told The Texas Tribune in a live interview that a global price war and the coronavirus pandemic will continue hampering the state's economy and budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf54dd53f70bae536d92686c9c9bb620/Christi%20Craddick%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
Two global crises have brought unusual attention to Texas oil regulators, who decided against taking action some producers wanted. One regulator said, "Politics win, Texans lose." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a9147e51791bc4b0551f9e41064a91f5/Midland%20BP%2006%20TT.jpg)