Oilfield companies helped to craft Texasโ new waste rules for 2 years before the public got to see them
The effort to update the stateโs oilfield waste disposal rules was initiated by Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright, one of the stateโs top oil and gas regulators who has investments in the industry.
In East Texas, a town fights to keep an oilfield waste dump from opening near wetlands and water wells
The Texas Railroad Commission has rejected the proposal twice over water contamination concerns, but locals are dismayed that the commissioners keep giving the developer more chances to alter its application.
Texas regulators pass rule aimed at preventing natural gas producers from having power cut off during future winter storms
But Texas oil and gas regulators addressed only part of the problem that led millions of Texans to lose power for days after Februaryโs winter storm, and gas producers likely wonโt be required to weatherize until 2023.
Republican Jim Wright ahead of Chrysta Castaรฑeda in Texas Railroad Commission race
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Republican Jim Wright had a solid lead over Democrat Chrysta Castaรฑeda early Wednesday morning in the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner, according to unofficial results from Decision Desk HQ. Wright was ahead of Castaรฑeda 53.4% to 43.2%, with an estimated 87.3% of votes counted. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the state's massive oil and gas industry, and its elected, three-member board has been entirely Republican for at least 25 years. Wright, who owns an oilfield waste services company, shockingly defeated the incumbent railroad commissioner, Ryan Sitton, in the March primary.
Texas Democrats think a seat on the oil and gas regulating board could be their best chance of winning statewide in two decades
Democrat Chrysta Castaรฑeda and Republican Jim Wright face off for a seat on the three-member Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees the state's oil and gas industry. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the state's massive oil and gas industry, and its elected, three-member board has been entirely Republican for at least 25 years. Wright said he is running to protect the stateโs oil and gas industry and keep Texans employed. โThey put their faith in TV, but Iโll put my faith in the people of Texas,โ Wright said in an interview. Oil and gas producers say it's because of a shortage of pipelines, while environmentalists say it's due to economics because natural gas is far cheaper than oil.
Michael Bloomberg gives $2.6 million to Texas Democrat running for railroad commissioner
Bloomberg's contribution helped Castaรฑeda raise $3.5 million on her latest campaign finance report, according to her campaign. The filing covers Sept. 25 through Oct. 26 and is due to the Texas Ethics Commission by the end of the day Monday. Castaรฑeda's Republican opponent is Jim Wright, who unexpectedly beat the incumbent railroad commissioner, Ryan Sitton, in the March primary. Wright is an oil and gas businessman from Orange Grove; Castaรฑeda is a Dallas engineer and lawyer who specializes in the energy industry. The commission's three current members are all Republicans, and a Democrat has not won statewide office in over two decades in Texas.