Tiffany Cutledge, with the Texas Railroad Commission’s Office of Public Engagement, recently provided a program for the Rotary Club of Livingston, presenting an overview of the commission and its role in regulating the state’s energy industry.
Though the agency still carries the “railroad commission” name, it no longer regulates railroads. Established in 1891, the commission now oversees oil and gas production, pipelines, critical infrastructure, alternative fuels, natural gas utilities, and surface mining operations across Texas.
A major focus of the presentation was the enormous impact of the energy industry in Texas. The commission regulates more than 240,000 active oil and gas wells, oversees nearly half a million miles of pipeline, and conducts hundreds of thousands of inspections each year. The industry generates approximately $27 billion annually in state and local tax revenue that supports schools, roads, first responders and other public services.
Cutledge also discussed the commission’s efforts to plug orphaned wells, monitor pipeline safety, prepare critical infrastructure for severe weather events, and regulate natural gas utilities to help protect consumers from improper billing practices.
Attendees learned about several public resources available through the commission, including the online GIS Viewer, which allows residents to locate oil wells, pipelines, permits and operator activity throughout Texas – including the Livingston area. She also emphasized the importance of calling 811 before digging to prevent damage to underground pipelines and utilities.
Additional discussion included carbon capture wells, emergency preparedness following Winter Storm Uri, pipeline inspections, alternative fuel licensing and reclamation projects that transform former mining lands into productive community spaces.
