Oil and gas regulator
Commissioner says he want to protect Texans against “bad actors and problems.”
RepublicanTexans might representativeknow Wayne who Christianstyled himselfas a longtimeas “the only Christian in the Legislature.” But in November, Christian was elected to the state Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry. Christian, one of three commissioners, brings to the job a fervent belief in the oil and gas industry’s ability to boost the economies of Texas and the United States.
In a recent interview with the Chronicle, he celebrated the election of President Donald Trump and said he looks forward to the dismantling of regulations aimed at the industry to mitigate climate change, which he calls a “catch phrase.” But, he added, the Railroad Commission needs additional funding to inspect oil and gas operations and prevent environmental damage.
Q: As the newest commissioner, how do you view your role on commission?
A: It’s to service the citizens of Texas and protect them against bad actors and problems.
Q: What are some of your priorities for your term?
A: Over the long term, we need to get the message out to the citizens of Texas that we are not the evil empire that many of our academic elitists have made us out to be. Everyone in the state is just convinced that we are just using coal and natural gas until we can fill in for solar and wind. It’s only because of oil and gas and coal that we have had industrialization of our world that every industrial country has a cleaner, safer environment than a non-industrialized country.
Q: So you want people to understand how important oil and gas is in their lives?
A: That is absolutely true. Financially, oil and gas and coal are a third of the jobs in Texas — direct and indirect — and you start understanding that, and you’ll understand that during President Obama’s administration we had the slowest recovery. The state of Texas — its oil, gas and coal — bailed out Barack Obama’s financial situation. Q: What do you mean by that, ‘bailed out’?
A: Had it not been for Texas’ (oil and gas industry), the recovery Obama bragged about, that would have been a loss.
Q: You’ve had a long career as a legislator, but you’re new to the world of oil and gas regulation. How does your experience as a lawmaker inform your decisions as a commissioner?
A: I was quite familiar with the operation of the Railroad Commission during the length of time that I was a legislator. More importantly, the Legislature’s purpose is to pass one bill, and that’s the budget. Funding is really the only duty of the Legislature. So I think that my experience with the Legislature is essential in understanding that it’s a dollar and cents deal.
With the new growth that is coming to the oil and gas market in Texas, we cannot keep up with the applications that will start coming our way. It takes less than a week to process our current level of applications. If we don’t get the additional funding from the Legislature, that time for our permit will increase. So we are going to slow tremendously our opportunity for growth.
Q: There is an attempt every year to change the commission’s name to something that involves the word “energy.” Any thoughts on that?
A: In East Texas there is an old saying, “if it’s working, don’t fix it.” When you sell your brand — the Railroad Commission of Texas — to people in the industry who really make a difference across the world, they know the Railroad Commission of Texas. And I am thinking it may be harmful to change its name. We’re the Railroad Commission. It may not make sense. Would you rename the Alamo? Still, if you’ve sold your product and it’s paid off and it’s the most powerful on Earth, would you change it? But I am in full agreement that we need to do a better job of marketing what we do. Q: The Railroad Commission is a powerful agency, arguably one of the most important in Texas. What is one thing that you would want Texas residents to know about the commission? A: The commission and the industry that we represent — the fossil fuel, oil, gas and coal industry — is making sure we are keeping our state safe, clean and financially successful. That our job is to make sure that we watch over that. While there will always be things that occur that are negative — in any government agency anywhere — our record is the oldest, strongest and best record for keeping things safe. God has blessed Texas. I just think that we need to be responsible for that blessing he gave us, not irresponsible.