Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I have no personal connections to the oil and gas industry. I have no conflicts of interest, and there is no risk of “regulatory capture”.
Environmental and Public Safety
What would you do about uncapped abandoned oil, gas, and injection wells across the state?
Going forward, all well-owning companies must be insured and/or bonded against well abandonment, as a condition of their liability protection. However, dealing with the damage caused by decades-old abandoned wells is a difficult problem. Remediation and capping should not be financed solely by taxpayers. Oil and gas companies should also pay into a fund for remediation and capping.
Data Centers
How should Texas prepare its energy infrastructure for increasing demand from data centers and population growth?
Texas should allow all forms of energy production to compete in a free market. The state should not pick winners and losers. However, restitution should be readily available for property owners when oil and gas production causes property damage. That restitution can be provided in the form of insurance, bonding, and/or cleanup funds. Also, pipeline regulation should be transferred to TxDOT.
Monitoring and Enforcement
How would you ensure that the Commission is able to provide adequate monitoring and enforcement to the oil, gas, and mining sectors?
The legislature needs to ensure that the RRC has the tools it needs. Regulations should ensure that energy producers fully respect the property rights of landowners, and should provide for prompt restitution when the activities of energy producers cause property damage. Regulations should follow the principle that rights are more important than interests.
New Energy
What energy technologies should be promoted to support a reliable way to meet energy demands?
As stated above, Texas and the RRC should not try to promote specific technologies. Energy producers and innovators should be allowed to compete in a free market. “Free market” means no favoritism, no cronyism, and no picking winners and losers.
