  Check out this video of a Texas Railroad Commission meeting (RealPlayer required) in which the Commission authorizes its attorney to intervene in Public Utility Commission dockets regarding power line construction in the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones.
Basically Texas needs to build more high voltage power transmission lines from West to East in order to carry the power generated by renewable sources like wind power in the West to the population centers in the East where the power is used.
Ever the vigilant protectors of the Oil and Gas industry, the Texas Railroad Commission is apparently trying to step in and wreak havoc on the process with only the flimsiest of excuses.
What could it be that the RRC feels compelled to intervene on? The excuse given by Counsel is that the lines may "adversely impact" the ability of the Commission to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.
Really, RRC? REALLY? You're afraid that they'll place power lines directly over a well, and thus you won't be able to plug it?
But wait, it gets even better. Here's what Commissioner Michael Williams says:
Commissioner: “ You mention in terms of some rational that apply is that it may adversly impact our ability with regards to wells that need to be plugged, but would it not also be the case it might very well affect our ability and our mission as it relates to new wells that need to be drilled as well”
Counsel: “Thats a possibility as well”
Commissioner: “ OK , and I would urge us to look at this in terms of our participation with regards to the full range of the responsibilities that we have and the full range of the mission of this comission”
Counsel: “ OK,We will”
Comissioner: “Thank You”
Excuse me for asking this, but ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? Commissioner Williams is actually suggesting that the Railroad Commission should intervene in the placement of power lines because even though we have millions of acres all across Texas to drill for oil and gas, we may not be able to spare the small amount of acreage that power lines take up?
REALLY? I couldn't even fathom to make this shit up. Would the RRC really seek to stop a power line placement because it might cross and thus permanently make it impossible to put up a drilling rig on a small strip of land?
Where this would really come into play would be near the larger cities, where drillable space is at a premium. For instance in well-populated areas there may only be a few greenbelt areas where a drilling rig might be able to be put up to drill a well to drain the resources beneath the neighborhoods. If a power line goes in and eliminates some drilling spots, it could lock some hydrocarbons out of ever being produced.
But come on... We have plenty of land in Texas, and the amount of energy carried by high-tension transmission lines far exceeds that provided by the improbably small number of wells that might not be able to be drilled. The greater good requires that we bring renewable energy into the population centers.
 I fear that the Texas Railroad Commission, which is already a rubber-stamping wholly owned subsidiary of the oil and gas industry in Texas will continue to place the temporary profit motives of the industry above the greater good for the people of Texas.
Williams, I call bullshit on you.
We thank Citizen Sarah for bringing this to our attention. |
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