Qualifications: What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position?
Natural Gas Facility Weatherization: What further changes, if any, are needed to ensure that Texas has sufficient power in times of extreme weather conditions?
Emissions: What impact does flaring from oil and gas wells have on climate change, and what is the role of the Railroad Commission in reducing the amount of flared gas from oil and gas wells in Texas?
Seismic Activity: How can the Railroad Commission reduce the risk of seismic activity or earthquakes caused by water disposal from oil and gas drilling?
Ethics: Since candidates for Railroad Commission often raise money and receive income from the oil and gas industry, how can citizens be assured that those donations and income will not influence how commissioners regulate the industry?
Stream the Republican Primary Voters Guide
James 'Jim' Matlock
After serving with an anti-terrorist unit in the United States Marine Corps, I began an 18 year career in the oil and gas industry, where I noticed the vulnerability of our energy sector.
matlock4rrc.com
Contrary to popular belief, I don't agree with the final ruling. There were power plants that were not operating during the snow storms of 2021. Some of the biomass plants were not prepared to be operational. This information comes from those that worked for these facilities. Can we make improvements? Absolutely.
Let's look beyond climate change. Flaring natural gas is not good stewardship of our resources. Flaring has been done since the 1930's. There have been countless technological advancements in the past 100 years that would use that wasted product to help keep electric and fuel affordable for the general public. It's time we put technology to work for the people and reduce the amount of waste.
We need to reduce the amount of water being pushed into formations not capable of producing hydrocarbons. These formations should not have that kind of pressure added. With that being said, there's technology that could repurpose 80%-90% of the 14 million barrels of waste water produced daily in Texas for future completion jobs or even irrigation of land and crops.
This is a major concern within politics all together. Politicians should be able to tell the public where they stand. I am pro oil and gas. I think we can produce it cleaner and do a better job of reducing/eliminating the waste. By eliminating the waste, we will be creating more affordable energy for all Texans. I am not invested in the industry. I spent 18 years trying to clean up the industry.
