In recent days, multiple out-of-state environmentalist groups have announced plans to target Texas pipelines and other energy infrastructure as central elements of newly-launched campaigns. Earthworks plans to “delay and defeat” new oil and gas infrastructure and 350.org’s “Fossil Free US” campaign has held organizing meetings in several Texas communities as a part of their effort to halt all new oil and gas “infrastructure and projects that incentivize more extraction.”
A 2017 report from the Global Energy Institute demonstrates the impact of cutting back on new pipelines, tanks, and terminals would have on American families. The report shows that these anti-pipeline policies have led New England to become one of the most expensive power markets in the world, with 44 percent higher electricity prices and 29 percent higher natural gas process than the national averages.
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the bottom 20 percent of households face the burden of spending over 20 percent of their take-home pay on gasoline and residential utility bills. By continuing to embrace safe, effective energy infrastructure to supply low-income areas with oil and natural gas, these communities will benefit through:
- lower utility bills
- lower gasoline prices
- billions of dollars in tax revenue for local and state government
- thousands of new direct and indirect jobs
- energy self-sufficiency
- personal security
- increased business spending
- reliability and security in the event of a natural disaster
Finally, pipelines are proven to be 4.5 times safer than other means of transport and have a track record of safely reaching their destination 99.999 percent of the time. Embracing these safe, proven oil and gas infrastructure projects over the policies of out-of-state environmentalists will go a long way to help low-income communities, ensuring that all Texans will be able to share in the prosperity provided by the abundant natural resources in the Lone Star State.
