Weighing in on a case before the FCC, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter signed a letter authored by a pipeline company. Critics say the move illustrates a coziness with the industries he regulates.
Texas Railroad Commission
Posted in
Economy
Examiners: Company Not To Blame For Quakes
The Texas Railroad Commission looks poised to clear a second oilfield company of responsibility for a series of earthquakes that rattled two North Texas towns — despite research suggesting otherwise.
Posted in
Energy
Well Explosion Could Pressure Texas Regulators
A Palo Pinto County family is suing two oil and gas operators, alleging that gas from their wells migrated into the family’s water well, which exploded and burned them.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas, Petroleum Industry Broaden Their Lawsuits Against Denton
The Texas Oil and Gas Association and the state’s General Land Office have expanded the scope of their lawsuits against Denton. Both are taking aim at the city’s moratorium on new gas drilling in addition to the toothless fracking ban still on its books.
Posted in
Energy
Regulators: No Evidence Wells Caused 4.0 Quake
After wrapping up a round of testing, Texas regulators say they have found no evidence that injecting oilfield waste into five disposal wells triggered the largest recorded earthquake in North Texas’ history.
Posted in
Energy
Porter Takes Over as Railroad Commission Chairman
The Texas Railroad Commission has a new leader. The state’s three-member oil and gas regulator on Tuesday unanimously elected David Porter as its chairman. He replaces Christi Craddick in the largely ceremonial role.
Posted in
Economy
With Fracking Ban Overruled, Denton Ponders Next Steps
Frustrated Denton residents flooded a city council meeting Tuesday for a conversation about fracking that stretched late into the night. Now that state lawmakers have slapped down the city’s fracking ban, residents wonder what else they can do.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Fracked Again, Denton Says Fight Isn’t Over
Seven months after a rag-tag group of local activists scored a surprising victory over the state’s powerful oil and gas industry when Denton voted to ban hydraulic fracturing, a natural gas company Monday resumed operations under a state law passed to overturn Denton’s ban.
Posted in
Energy
Proposal Would Delay Railroad Commission Scrutiny
The Railroad Commission of Texas would avoid intense legislative scrutiny until 2023 under a deal reached late Friday, a surprise six-year reprieve that rankled the oil and gas regulator’s critics.
Posted in
Energy
Amid Local Control Fight, a Proposal Cities Like
City officials are crossing their fingers that one Republican proposal – what consumer advocates call the session’s most important bill for natural gas utility customers – will pick up steam before time runs out.
