Skip to main content

Watch: A conversation about how the oil and gas sector affects Texas

We're livestreaming our conversation in Odessa on the state of play in Texas' oil and gas sector, moderated by the Tribune's Ross Ramsey.

Republish

In a state that produces more crude and more natural gas than any other, is it any wonder the sun rises and sets on the price of West Texas Intermediate? Nearly 350,000 jobs in a state with a historically low unemployment rate are said to be tied to oil and gas, and the industry provides $102 billion in tax base for purposes of public education funding. While no one disputes the enormity of the industry’s successes, there’s always a question about the cost and who bears it. Negative consequences for physical and social infrastructure, including a strain on natural resources, are among the red flags raised high. How do we keep the good thing we have going — for the benefit of all Texans?

In this live conversation, we sit down with industry professionals and local officials for a conversation on the state of play in Texas’ oil and gas sector, moderated by The Texas Tribune's Ross Ramsey.

Our panelists are:

  • Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership
  • State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa
  • Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association

Disclosure: The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Wait! We need your help.

More than 2 million people read Texas Tribune articles every month, but only 12,000 of those readers also donate to support the news they count on. Not even 1% of readers! If you are one of the 99% of Texas Tribune readers who hasn’t made a donation before in support of independent Texas news, you can change that today. A small donation makes a big impact.

Our Spring Member Drive is an important time to help our newsroom plan for what resources will be available for them to tackle longer investigations and bigger projects later this year. Texas Tribune journalists need the support of readers to write the articles, take the photographs and create the data visualizations that impact Texans and Texas policy.

We have a goal to have 500 readers become Texas Tribune members during our Spring Member Drive. As the Tribune member community grows, the journalism you read here is better protected. Will you make a donation today to show your support of independent Texas news?

DONATE NOW

Information about the authors

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics

Brooks Landgraf