Written Testimony: Public Citizen urges Texas to cut oil and gas production
The Railroad Commission should limit oil and gas production in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Adrian Shelley
Read our comments to the Railroad Commission.
The coronavirus pandemic has energy markets in upheaval. Oil and gas already faces a supply glut due to an ongoing market share competition between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Now the coronavirus has dramatically decreased demand for fossil fuels.
The Railroad Commission (Texas’ oil and gas regulatory authority) is considering putting limits on production for the first time in 40 years. Public Citizen’s Texas office filed comments with the Commission on the issue. We suggested the following:
- The Commission should cut production now in response to the pandemic and a changing market.
- The Commission must prepare for the global shift away from fossil fuels that is occurring now due to, among other things, the climate crisis.
- The Commission should prioritize production cuts for producers and fields with the worst records of excessive flaring.
This third ask is included in a letter written by Environment Texas and cosigned by many organizations including Public Citizen.
The Railroad Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on this issue on Tuesday, April 14 at 9:30 AM Central Time. You can attend the hearing online.
You can read the full text of our comments to the Railroad Commission here.