Creation of jobs big part of plan

Candidate White touts ‘buy-Texas’ fuel program

AUSTIN — A “buy-Texas” fuel program and a statewide mass transit network using self-driving vehicles would help the state create a million jobs over the next five years under a plan unveiled Tuesday by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew White.

White detailed the plan during an Austin campaign stop as he struggles to make headlines with a May 22 runoff fast approaching. He is challenging front-runner Lupe Valdez in the race to determine who will face incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November.

White’s plan would allow Texas to reinvest new alternative energy options, including more compressed-natural gas vehicles that would limit emissions and an opportunity for automakers to shift their production lines in Texas to make their so-called autonomous vehicles in the Lone Star State.

“Texas is too big to think small,” White, a Houston entrepreneur, said in announcing the plan that he said is designed to appeal to a wide range of Texans “from ranch hands and soccer moms.”

Key to the program would be a new initiative in which gas stations would display signs telling

“Texas is too big to think small.” Gubernatorial candidate Andrew White

customers how much of the fuel they are selling is made in Texas — as in how much was produced from Texas crude. He called it the “oil sign” program.

White said if Texans bought more Texas-produced gasoline and diesel — under a new “Made-inTexas” law he would advocate — state revenues would increase to allow Texas to invest more in state programs such as health care, schools and others starved for cash.

Texas holds about 40 percent of the U.S. oil reserves, boasts about 30 percent of the country’s refining capacity and consumes about 3.7 million barrels of oil each day. White said his plan would increase production by up to 15 percent and would generate 200,000 new jobs during his four-year term, if he’s elected.

“It will take money away from the Russians and the Saudis,” he said, even though he conceded that much of Texas fuel stock comes from Canada.

Using some funds generated through that program, as well as a $1 billion infusion of cash tapped from the state’s Rainy Day Fund, White said, he would create a statewide transit system allowing Texans to use on-demand driverless vehicles, both in urban and rural areas.

“It would be far more flexible than rail or bus,” said White, who is also an advocate of a high-speed rail line from Houston to Dallas. “With 28 million Texans doubling to 50plus million by 2050, our commutes will get longer, more dangerous, more environmentally harmful and more frustrating.”

Vehicles for the program would be built in Texas. Some would be battery-powered and others powered by compressed natural gas to minimize pollution, he said. Also, Texas colleges and universities could be involved in the development of the network and manufacture of the vehicles.

White predicted his energy and transportation proposals would create 500,000 jobs, and that the other 500,000 would be created by getting the federal government to create similar programs.