West Texas Legislative Summit convenes for 20th year

SAN ANGELO, Texas ( Concho Valley Homepage ) — Political and industrial leaders from San Angelo and across the Lone Star State gathered at Angelo State University on July 30 for the 20th annual West Texas Legislative Summit. Here’s an overview of what was discussed.

Alternative Energy Sources

The first discussion was concerned with Texas’ energy independence. State Rep. Stan Lambert, Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Jim Glotfelty, Hydrogen Energy and Air Liquide USA Vice President Laura Parkan, Natura Resources CEO Doug Robison and Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance Chairman Barry Smitherman acted as panelists during the discussion.

The panelists discussed several forms of energy production, with particular emphasis being placed on geothermal, hydrogen and nuclear energy. Many expressed interest in incorporating nuclear energy into the state’s power grid, with Abilene Christian University’s research in using molten salt as a cooling agent earning praise among the speakers.

The Oil and Gas Industry

The next discussion focused on the state’s oil and gas industry. Texas Sen. Kevin Sparks, Texas Reps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf and Permian Basin Petroleum Association President Ben Shepperd took the stage as panelists.

The four’s discussion went through a variety of topics related to Texas’ oil and gas industry, ranging from how recent federal legislature has impacted the industry to how power outages such as those caused by 2021’s winter storm can be avoided. They also spoke about how the West Texas job market is impacted by the oil and gas industry and how money brought in through oil and gas is distributed to smaller and larger cities.

The Water Supply

The summit also held a third discussion that focused on enhancing the sustainability of the state’s water supply. This discussion featured panelists Texas Sen. Drew Springer, Railroad Commission of Texas Commissioner Jim Wright, Texas Tech University Water Consortium Rusty Smith and Texas Pacific Water Resources Research and Development Manager Adrianne Lopez.

The panelists primarily focused on produced water — “water that exists in subsurface formations and is brought to the surface during oil and gas production,” according to the Ground Water Protection Council — and its potential applications within Texas.

The panelists stressed that, while more data and research are needed, produced water could be used to ensure that future generations have more water and meet increasing water demand coming from the state’s agricultural industry if treated correctly. They also emphasized the need to act immediately regarding the protection and recharge of Texas’ water supply.

The Texas-Mexico Border

The final discussion of the summit was concerned with matters related to the border between Mexico and Texas, such as immigration and trade. Texas Sens. Cesar Blanco, Pete Flores and Charles Perry, Texas Rep. Eddie Morales Jr. and Texas Pacifico Vice President Stan Meador acted as panelists for this discussion.

The panelists emphasized the need to guard the border to prevent illegal activities such as smuggling and human trafficking. They also discussed how to best facilitate trade between Mexico and Texas, with multiple speakers calling for the state to focus on addressing the border’s problems without disrupting legitimate international trade.

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