Permission Granted: Texas oil and gas regulators on track to allow more flaring waste than ever

A new investigative report reveals how the state oil and gas agency,

 the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), is on track to authorize venting or 

flaring an unprecedented 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas by the end of the decade — enough to fuel every residential gas customer in Texas for over 15 years. The RRC's permitting decisions enable extensive flaring activities, adversely affecting Texas's air quality, public health, and climate.

View the full report at Commission Shift. 

 The report was produced as part of a

 joint project between Commission Shift, Texans for Public Justice,

 and Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC).  

Paxton Felony Fraud Charges to be Dismissed

Felony securities fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton to be dropped after nine years.

Read the news at the Texas Tribune.

Remembering Dr. Sidney Wolfe; founder of Public Citizen.

America lost a true champion for consumers and corporate accountability.

Read a tribute by Robert Weissman of Public Citizen.

REPORT: Top Texas Officials Pocket $6.3 Million From Blackout Profiteers

Donors tied to 36 companies that private lawsuits allege manipulated natural gas markets to improperly profit from 2021’s deadly Winter Storm Uri contributed $6.3 million to seven top Texas officials a new study by Texans for Public Justice and Public Citizen’s Texas Office finds.

Read the news release:

Read the full report:

REPORT: Oil Barons Backed Paxton Impeachment Officials with $12 Million

Three ultra-conservative, oil-tycoon billionaires moved $12 million in campaign funding to 17 officials directly involved in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, a new study finds. Recipients include defendant Paxton, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who acts as the trial’s judge, and a majority of the 31-member Senate jury, according to the report by Texans for Public Justice and the Texas Office of Public Citizen.
Read the full media release.

Read the complete report.

TPJ Seeking Data Specialist

Texans for Public Justice is seeking a part-time Database Specialist to help with some exciting government transparency / conflict of interest work.

The position is $20/hour for a flexible schedule averaging 5-10 hours per week. This is a remote position, with a preference for someone in Texas.

This would be a good opportunity for someone to be part of a larger project that is bound to shake things up in Texas.

More info here and below, and thanks for spreading the word.

Two-thirds of board members overseeing Texas public universities are Abbott donors. -- Texas Tribune

Texas Tribune analysis found that more than 70% of Abbott's appointees to Texas university boards have donated to his gubernatorial campaign fund.  About 30% of the appointees have given more than $100,000. A Tribune analysis also found that the larger and more prestigious the university system, the more likely its board is to be stacked with deep-pocketed donors.

  

 

Read the full story at the Texas Tribune.

POT OF GOLD: Did Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s trusted, troubled strategist shake down Texas hemp growers?

In the Texas Observer TPJ's Andrew Wheat exposes a political consultant's shake down of Texas hemp growers.

 Read the full story at the Texas Observer.

Report highlights RRC progress on designating critical energy infrastructure.

A new report from Commission Shift and Texans for Public Justice finds that most facilities on the natural gas supply chain have been designated critical. Poor agency record keeping procedures leave questions about which facilities have been granted or denied exceptions to critical infrastructure designation. Confidentiality requirements leave the public in the dark about which facilities will actually be required to be weatherized, while a handful of private companies enjoy special access to regulators and the electricity supply chain map.

Access the new report at Commission Shift.

Washington Post: 7 years later, still no trial for Ken Paxton

AUSTIN, Texas — Not many people charged with felony crimes go seven years without ever standing trial. One of them is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

 

Read the full story at the Washington Post.