Texas Tribune energy and economy reporter Mitchell Ferman sat down with Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick for a live discussion about how the Texas energy sector has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and what the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the industry, is doing to encourage recovery and growth.
Here’s a look at some of Craddick’s responses to questions during the interview.
How has the oil and gas industry been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, and how has the state responded?
- The oil and gas sector was experiencing disruptions months before the coronavirus outbreak. Craddick said that as early as the fourth quarter of last year, there were signs indicating that demand was on a downward slope. “Our permits were beginning to be off even before” the coronavirus outbreak began, Craddick said, so the commission had already begun accounting in its budget for a decrease in demand.
How has the state economy been affected by the downturn in the energy sector?
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What does the future of the energy industry look like?
Craddick was first elected to the Texas Railroad Commission in 2012. She is an attorney specializing in oil and gas, water, electric deregulation and environmental policy. Before serving on the Railroad Commission, Craddick was the chief political and legal adviser to the speaker of the Texas House.
The interview was streamed on the Tribune’s website, Facebook page and Twitter, as well as by our media partners at KPRC2 and KXAN, to a live audience of more than 4,100 viewers.
Disclosure: The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Facebook have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
This event is presented by AT&T, TEXAS 2036, Ryan and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Media support is provided by KPRC2 and KXAN. Foundation support is provided by the Catena Foundation, Energy Foundation and Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation.
Tribune events are also supported through contributions from our founding investors and members. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.
