Study: Oil Activity May Be Cause of East Texas Quakes
University of Texas at Austin researchers call it “plausible” that underground injections of oil and gas waste triggered a series of temblors that rattled Timpson residents in 2012. Full Story
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![Each day, dozens of trucks hook up to the Gulf Coast-run fracking fluid disposal well site near Gonzales, Texas.]()
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Years After Landmark Ruling, Court To Rehear "Bizarre" Pipeline Case
Nearly five years after issuing a ruling cheered by property rights advocates, the Texas Supreme Court is set to rehear a case pitting two Texas brothers against a pipeline company that seized their land through eminent domain. Full Story
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![David Holland walks among the dozens of pipeline markers scattered across his Beaumont-area farm.]()
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As Oil Prices Fell, Texas Campaign Donations Followed
For decades, the petroleum industry has largely fueled Texas' influence in national Republican politics. But operatives are seeing early signs that the current oil bust has depressed the sector’s political giving. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Railroad Commission Hopeful Unclear on Agency's Duties
Wayne Christian, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, frequently touts his energy expertise. But he did not know one of the agency’s key duties — regulating natural gas utilities — until a reporter told him. Full Story
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Gary Gates, Wayne Christian Advance to Railroad Commission Runoff
The Republican race for Texas Railroad Commission is chugging toward a runoff between Rosenberg rancher and real estate mogul Gary Gates and former state Rep. Wayne Christian. Full Story
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Geoscientist's Latest Experiment: Running for Statewide Office
In the Republican primary for Texas Railroad Commission, Lance Christian — a political novice — is embarking on something of an experiment: Can the agency staffer win statewide office based on scientific expertise alone? Full Story
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![Lance Christian, a Texas Railroad Commission geoscientist and candidate for railroad commissioner.]()
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Video: A Conversation with GOP Railroad Commission Candidates
Full video of my 2/8 conversation with seven Republican candidates for Texas Railroad Commissioner. Full Story
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Railroad Commission Hopefuls Split on Donations
Candidates Ron Hale, Weston Martinez and Lance Christian say they would support a proposal barring railroad commissioners from accepting political donations from parties doing business before the commission. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Disconnect for Ted Cruz Between Pipeline Stance and Attack on Trump
Despite a recent ad bashing Donald Trump for employing eminent domain for a parking lot, Ted Cruz has backed the Keystone XL and other pipeline projects that would use the same controversial tool to displace landowners. Full Story
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![During a stop at the Spindletop Museum in Beaumont, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz pitched his energy policy bill, which he calls the American Energy Renaissance Act.]()
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After Brief Hiatus, Wayne Christian Resumes Run for Railroad Commission
Wayne Christian has resumed his campaign for Texas railroad commissioner, ending a short hiatus that shook up the Republican primary contest. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Big Bend Pipeline Now Closer to Approval
A coalition of ranchers, environmentalists and disgruntled landowners has suffered a major setback in its battle to block a proposed pipeline that would carry natural gas beneath 143 miles of largely untouched Big Bend-area land. Full Story
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![A sign opposing the Trans-Pecos pipeline hangs in a neighborhood near where the pipeline could run near Alpine.]()
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Spokesman: Wayne Christian Suspending Railroad Commission Bid
Wayne Christian is suspending his bid for an open seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, but he is not terminating his campaign altogether, a spokesman said Monday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
As Oil Prices Plunge, New Scrutiny of Gas Tax Credit
By reclassifying oil wells as gas wells, producers can often claim a generous state tax credit targeting “high cost” natural gas. Now, some lawmakers say the policy deserves a fresh look. Full Story
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Big Oil's Trouble, Drilling Rules were Top Energy Stories of 2015
Texans could hardly avoid the doom-and-gloom headlines about plummeting oil prices in 2015. But that was far from the only major storyline in energy this year. Full Story
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Railroad Commission Names New Executive Director
The Texas Railroad Commission has named Kimberly Corley as its new executive director. Full Story
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![Newly-named Texas Railroad Commission Executive Director Kimberly Corley speaks at STEM Education Day on Friday, May 10, 2013.]()
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Patterson, Declining to Run for Railroad Commission, Knocks Trump
Former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is not running for state railroad commissioner, and he says that Donald Trump has something to do with that. Full Story
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![Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter, who announced he won't seek reelection.]()
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Burnam Joins Race for Open Railroad Commission Seat
Former state Rep. Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, said Sunday that he has filed to run for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates oil and gas development. Full Story
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Porter Drops Re-election Bid; Others Consider Jumping In
Railroad Commissioner David Porter announced Thursday that he will exit his primary battle against Republican activist John Greytok. Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is exploring a run for the seat. Full Story
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Analysis: It Can Be a Fuzzy Line Between Government and Politics
Voters used to be more sensitive to even a hint that taxpayer money might be used for political purposes: Even when it’s not criminal, it’s sleazy. Full Story
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![Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter.]()
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Texas Lawmakers Seek Abbott's Blessing on Oil Theft Crackdown
Oil rustlers of Texas beware: State lawmakers want to crack down on the those who swipe hundreds of barrels of black gold to sell on the black market. But first, they need the governor’s blessing. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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