Though the field hearing was pushed back more than two hours than originally scheduled, more than 100 people crowded the Bush Convention Center to listen to testimony during a congressional field hearing.
Thursday’s field hearing was for the House Energy & Commerce Committee that featured bipartisan support from more than a dozen House of Representative members from across the country.
This marked the second time in a week that Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas) hosted a congressional field hearing in his 11th District of Texas. This hearing was “American Energy Expansion: Improving Local Economies and Communities’ Way of Life.”
“The discussion today was about energy expansion,” Pfluger said during a press conference after the congressional hearing. “It’s really important that we look at how we produce energy and ways that we provide that, not just our own country’s needs, but using it as a tool for national security, using it to help our allies and our partners abroad.”
The House of Representative members that took part in Thursday’s field hearing included Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), Buddy Carter (R-Georgia), Jeff Duncan (R-South Carolina), John Curtis (R-Utah), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Georgia), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Kat Cammack (R-Florida), Tony Cardenas (D-California) and Scott Peters (D-California).
Those representatives heard testimony from Midland Mayor Lori Blong, local business owner and Chairman of the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Adrian Carrasco, UTPB Professor and Chair of Department of Geosciences Michael Zavada and CEO of Elevation Resources and IPAA Chairman Steve Pruett.
Blong said she is a second-generation Midlander and that she is currently raising three children as third-generation Midlanders. She explained oil and gas employs 500,000 people throughout the state with an average salary of $115,000 and has helped Midland be tied for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.4%.
“An 18-year-old with a commercial driver’s license can earn six figures a year in Midland,” Blong said. “Not just can, but they do.”
Carrasco talked about how oil and gas jobs help fuel minority business owners. He also explained oil and gas is an economic driver for the Permian Basin.
“The oil and gas industry is very responsible and I get to see it first hand,” Carrasco said. “… Oil and gas operators and service companies have positive impact on employment, building strong communities and quality of life.”
Zavada was a late addition to the congressional field hearing. He explained the likelihood of fossil fuels being phased out in 10 years isn’t realistic. He said he believes a diverse energy portfolio is the safest and most stable way of maintaining long-term energy independence.
“I believe the rational and cooperative investment and the development of all forms of alternative energy will not only diversify our energy portfolio but continue the long-term tradition of West Texas as a major source of America’s energy needs,” Zavada said during the hearing.
Pruett spoke about the technological advancements in the oil and gas industry that has helped produce 5.6 million barrels per day. He said that number was 700,000 barrels per day back in 2008. He also explained three factors that affect and limit the growth of natural gas and production: the impact of regulatory uncertainty, permitting delays and labor and supply chain shortages.
“The oil industry is aging,” Pruett said during the hearing. “My generation is approaching retirement and setting our industry up for The Great Crew Change. However, there aren’t enough young people to replace my generation in the oil industry.”
Peters said he wants to work alongside oil and gas and help with methane capture. He spoke with members of the media after the meeting and he said this is his second trip to Midland, he has also visited Houston and Texas Tech in Lubbock to learn more about the oil and gas industry.
The congressman from San Diego said oil and gas is going to continue to be an important part of our energy portfolio moving forward. He also said he’s working to make sure the oil and gas industry is as clean as it can possibly be.
“This country has never solved any big problem, whether it’s sending someone to the moon or winning a world war or beating back a global pandemic, unless we work together as two parties,” Peters said. “We can’t do it with just one party.”
