Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I worked 25 years in oil & gas as a project manager and engineer, leading billion-dollar projects worldwide. Also, four terms in the Texas House, including serving on the Energy Resources Committee.
Environmental and Public Safety
What would you do about uncapped abandoned oil, gas, and injection wells across the state?
Lobby for increased RRC funding to ramp up well plugging. Incentivize responsible operators with lower costs and streamlined permitting; repeat violators get fined and face tougher permitting requirements. This will accelerate well plugging while discouraging bad operators. Update plugging best practices, monitoring, and evaluation requirements so the RRC can keep pace with the growing problem.
Data Centers
How should Texas prepare its energy infrastructure for increasing demand from data centers and population growth?
We need statewide guardrails for systems that protect communities while enabling growth. Require resource management plans for water and power before construction, prohibit sites near homes, and coordinate plans with local governments. Preserve local input while avoiding a patchwork of regulations, ensuring communities are protected and industry provides sufficient justification and incentives.
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?
I’d advocate for the RRC to get the resources it needs to enforce our current laws. Good operators ought to be expedited, bad operators disincentivized, and the RRC should help actors comply with the law. I’d also lobby for heavier fines and bonding for bad operators, third-party audits, site-level compliance reporting, public dashboards, and real-time complaint tracking.
New Energy
What energy technologies should be promoted to support a reliable way to meet energy demands?
I support an “all-of-the-above” approach to our energy strategy. Natural gas, along with wind, solar, and nuclear, is doing a decent job keeping the lights on. We should incentivize new power generation startups of all types, across the board, to promote a healthy energy portfolio for Texas.
