Even Texans confused about the Railroad Commission
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas According to a recent survey conducted by the Dallas-based Breitling Energy Company if given a choice the majority of
Texans would trust the Texas Energy Commission to ensure safe and responsible oil and gas drilling. But
theres a problem: The agency does not exist. Not yet at least. Its
the Texas Railroad Commission that actually regulates Oil & Gas in Texas.
There is however a growing movement to change the name to the Texas Energy Commission or the Texas Energy Resources Commission in order to more accurately reflect what the state agency actually does.
Commissioner Ryan Sitton (above right) is a newly elected Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) who not only favors changing the name to avoid confusion he is backing legislation to do so.
Sitton will testify before the House Energy Resources Committee on Monday April 20th when it hears testimony for and against HJR 76 a bill to rename the Railroad Commission of Texas. HJR 76 by Rep. Larry Phillips (R-HD 62) proposes a constitutional amendment changing the Commissions name to the Texas Energy Commission.
- Read Comm. Sittons recent Agency Name Change Would Benefit Texans" Op-Ed HERE.
Similar name changes have come up in the past several legislative sessions but they all failed.
The Texas Railroad Commission name goes back more than a century and is steeped in history. But increased drilling activity particularly in urban and suburban areas in North Texas has put increased focus on state regulations versus city regulations.
Its about eliminating confusion Commissioner Sitton says.
The RRC has nothing to do with trains! Did you know that? If not you arent alone" says Sitton.
Theres a woefully inadequate level of understanding regarding what the RRC does."
To back up this claim the recent survey undertaken by Breitling Energy of Dallas (OTC-BEC) asked hundreds of Texans different questions about who they most trust to ensure that drilling in Texas is done safely.
When given a choice 59 of the 271 respondents picked the fictional Texas Energy Commission in one question.- When narrowed down to Midland respondents that number increased to nearly 70.
- Given the choice respondents favored:
- the fictional Texas Energy Commission (39)
- the Environmental Protection Agency (40) and
- the Texas Railroad Commission (21)
- When narrowed down to Midland the Texas Energy Commission got 29 the EPA 34 and the RRC 37
When the more than 1000 respondents were told the Railroad Commission has nothing to do with trains and asked whether they would support changing the name to the Texas Energy Commission:
- A whopping 78 said yes.
- In Midland where there were 215 responses 70 agreeing to change the name.
That Breitlings Founder & CEO Chris Faulkner would conduct such a survey isnt surprising.
Hes made himself a spokesman for the drilling and hydraulic fracking industry.
So far in the 84
th Texas Legislative Faulkner and Breitling Energy have even encouraged legislators in Austin to considering a
critical bill that could help clean up the air we breathe and position
Texas as a national leader of environmental stewardship.
Texas Democratic Senator Carlos Urestis
Senate Bill 12 would use existing state funds already earmarked for emission reduction programs.
