Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas September 28 2011 - Commissioner Parker joined others in fighting for Texas energy today in Austin. He testified on behalf of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Below are his remarks.
Good afternoon. My name is Greg Parker; I am a County Commissioner in Comal County Texas. I have spoken and written extensively on energy issues and am currently Ph.D.(ABD) dissertation research focusing on the economic aspects of urban natural gas exploration in Texas. I am convinced that constructing the Keystone XL pipeline would be a positive step for America and Texas and I thank you for the opportunity to speak here today.
The Keystone XL pipeline is a project with tremendous potential to do good. It would not only strengthen Americas energy security but also exert downward pressure on fuel prices by giving us a direct line to a 1 million barrel a day oil supply from a stable friendly country with whom we have closely shared economic and cultural ties. In addition the pipeline would almost immediately begin to create family-wage stable employment for thousands of Texas workers.
We expect to see 7000 manufacturing jobs 13000 construction jobs and 118000 spinoff jobs related to the design and management of the Keystone XL pipeline. This is exactly the kind of economic boost the federal government has tried to do with the American Recovery Act and is again prepared to pay hundreds of billions of our tax dollars to achieve yet they have not given this privately-funded venture permission to begin.
In Texas the Keystone XL pipeline would mean gains of $1.6 billion in private investment $2.3 billion in total business expenditures $2 billion in gross output. Local governments would eventually receive a total of $1.1 billion in new property tax revenue.
It makes no sense to delay a project of this magnitude any longer. The State Departments own environmental review has found no support for opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline based on fears of ecological damage. In these perilous economic times it would simply be foolish to pass on an opportunity like the Keystone XL.
I believe in a balanced energy policy that melds conservation with the judicious utilization of a wide variety of fuel resources. Keystone XL would fortify our energy supply grow our economy and put thousands of people back to work. I ask that you approve this worthy project without delay.
Thank you.
About Commissioner Greg Parker
Commissioner Greg Parker was elected to the Comal County Commissioners Court on November 2 2004 and again in November 2008. Where he became the first African American and the youngest person to win election as a county commissioner in Comal County. In 2008 he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the State Commission on Emergency Communications where he traveled across the state speaking and leading the states initiative for Next Generation 9-1-1.
Commissioner Parker is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics the United States Association for Energy Economics the American Society for Public Administration Section on Environmental and Natural Resource Administration and the Texas Oil & Gas Association. He is an adjunct professor of government at Concordia University and the author of the book Global Warming...Really? which was chosen book of the week by the Conservative Monitor.
Commissioner Parker holds a Bachelors of Business Administration a Masters of Public Administration and is completing his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. He has also completed open courseware from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Energy Economics Econometrics Public Economics Environmental Economics and Government Responses to Market Failure Climate Change: Economics Science and Policy Sustainable Energy.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas September 28 2011 - Commissioner Parker joined others in fighting for Texas energy today in Austin. He testified on behalf of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Below are his remarks.
Good afternoon. My name is Greg Parker; I am a County Commissioner in Comal County Texas. I have spoken and written extensively on energy issues and am currently Ph.D.(ABD) dissertation research focusing on the economic aspects of urban natural gas exploration in Texas. I am convinced that constructing the Keystone XL pipeline would be a positive step for America and Texas and I thank you for the opportunity to speak here today.
The Keystone XL pipeline is a project with tremendous potential to do good. It would not only strengthen Americas energy security but also exert downward pressure on fuel prices by giving us a direct line to a 1 million barrel a day oil supply from a stable friendly country with whom we have closely shared economic and cultural ties. In addition the pipeline would almost immediately begin to create family-wage stable employment for thousands of Texas workers.
We expect to see 7000 manufacturing jobs 13000 construction jobs and 118000 spinoff jobs related to the design and management of the Keystone XL pipeline. This is exactly the kind of economic boost the federal government has tried to do with the American Recovery Act and is again prepared to pay hundreds of billions of our tax dollars to achieve yet they have not given this privately-funded venture permission to begin.
In Texas the Keystone XL pipeline would mean gains of $1.6 billion in private investment $2.3 billion in total business expenditures $2 billion in gross output. Local governments would eventually receive a total of $1.1 billion in new property tax revenue.
It makes no sense to delay a project of this magnitude any longer. The State Departments own environmental review has found no support for opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline based on fears of ecological damage. In these perilous economic times it would simply be foolish to pass on an opportunity like the Keystone XL.
I believe in a balanced energy policy that melds conservation with the judicious utilization of a wide variety of fuel resources. Keystone XL would fortify our energy supply grow our economy and put thousands of people back to work. I ask that you approve this worthy project without delay.
Thank you.
About Commissioner Greg Parker
Commissioner Greg Parker was elected to the Comal County Commissioners Court on November 2 2004 and again in November 2008. Where he became the first African American and the youngest person to win election as a county commissioner in Comal County. In 2008 he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the State Commission on Emergency Communications where he traveled across the state speaking and leading the states initiative for Next Generation 9-1-1.
Commissioner Parker is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics the United States Association for Energy Economics the American Society for Public Administration Section on Environmental and Natural Resource Administration and the Texas Oil & Gas Association. He is an adjunct professor of government at Concordia University and the author of the book Global Warming...Really? which was chosen book of the week by the Conservative Monitor.
Commissioner Parker holds a Bachelors of Business Administration a Masters of Public Administration and is completing his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. He has also completed open courseware from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Energy Economics Econometrics Public Economics Environmental Economics and Government Responses to Market Failure Climate Change: Economics Science and Policy Sustainable Energy.
