Thread by @douglewinenergy

Meant to tweet this yesterday. As #txlege enters the home stretch, @statesman's @bob_sechler does a great job documenting how oil and gas lobbyists have been working to remove any requirements for weatherization of gas infrastructure.

#txenergy #SB3

statesman.com/story/business…

This despite the fact -- yes, it is a fact -- that large portions of the oil and gas infrastructure were offline BEFORE the outages began. @IHSMarkit said 13% of gas production was down on Feb 13, more than 24 hours before power outages.

#txlege #txenergy 2/

@EIAgov economist Stephen York said "the bulk of the declines in natural gas production in Texas resulted from freeze-offs at wellheads or gathering facilities. At least initially, the declines 'were mostly unrelated' to electricity generation by power plants."
#TexasBlackouts 3/

The @DallasFed wrote a report showing that winterizing new gas wells is one of the most cost effective blackout prevention steps we could take as a state. It would cost an industry that made tens of billions in February "$85-200 million annually" 4/

dallasfed.org/research/econo…

New wells produce more oil and gas than old ones. It's cheaper to winterize up front. "A targeted and effective approach" said the Fed.

But that requirement isn't in the #SB3 version that passed the Senate. Gas wells are in the introduced bill
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Tex…
5/
#txlege

While gas wells are out of #SB3, the oil and gas trade association continues to try to stop safeguards which puts all of us at risk.

@vepalacios of @CommissionShift is quoted in the article: “If we [don't]...require gas wellhead winterization," (cont.) 6/

#txlege #energytwitter

"...We are going to end up with power outages again, potential deaths, possibly billions of dollars in damages again and higher utility bills," said Palacios, ED of Commission Shift.

All 👀on #SB3. No blaming ERCOT, PUCT, or anyone else if #txlege doesn't get it right this time.