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.
Texas Railroad Commission
Posted in
Economy
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.
Posted in
Economy
Railroad Commission Names New Executive Director
The Texas Railroad Commission has named Kimberly Corley as its new executive director.
Posted in
Energy
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.
Posted in
Energy
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.
Posted in
Economy
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.
Posted in
Politics
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.
Posted in
Economy
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.
Posted in
Economy
EPA Head: Texas Should Want Its Own Clean Power Plan
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggested that Texas leaders should play along with her agency’s sweeping Clean Power Plan, if only to avoid a more rigid carbon-cutting plan imposed by the federal government.
Posted in
Energy
Roundup: HERO, Quakes and “In God We Trust”
In the Roundup: A Houston nondiscrimination ordinance goes down, state regulators find no clear link between oilfield activity and some North Texas earthquakes, and a local police department gets the legal go-ahead to keep its “In God We Trust” stickers.
