In this week’s episode, host Russel Treat speaks with Thure Cannon and Jennifer Coffee of the Texas Pipeline Association about the recent 2023 Texas legislative session.

Listen to the episode now to learn more about everything that was discussed during the session, the economic impact of pipelines in Texas, and bills that impact the industry.

2023 Texas Legislative Session Show Notes, Links, and Insider Terms

• Thure Cannon is the President of the Texas Pipeline Association. Connect with Thure on LinkedIn.
• Jennifer Coffee is a General Counsel at Texas Pipeline Association. Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.
  • The Texas Pipeline Association is the largest and only state trade association in the U.S. that represents solely the interests of the intrastate pipeline network in Texas.
• Upstream is the operation stage in the oil and gas industry that involves exploration and production. 
• Midstream is the processing, storing, transporting and marketing of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.
• Downstream is the process involved in converting oil and gas into the finished product, including refining crude oil into gasoline, natural gas liquids, diesel, and a variety of other energy sources. The closer an oil and gas company is to the process of providing consumers with petroleum products, the further downstream the company is said to be.
• Read about the Texas Tech study here.
• NAESB is an industry association with a mandate to develop and encourage standards for the wholesale and retail natural gas and electricity markets.
  • NAESB Gas-Electric Harmonization Forum comprises a broad cross section of natural gas and electric markets – state and federal regulators, pipelines, generators, producers, distribution, marketing, transmission, end users, independent system operators and technology experts.
• FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) regulates, monitors, and investigates electricity, natural gas, hydropower, oil matters, natural gas pipelines, LNG terminals, hydroelectric dams, electric transmission, energy markets, and pricing.
• NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.
• The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining.
• Rule 3.66 from the TRRC is a Weatherization Rule Requirement for certain facilities to implement measures to prepare to operate during a weather emergency. 
• Gas flaring is the intentional and controlled combustion of waste products, or emergency pressure relief gas.  Through controlled combustion, the environmental impact is less than the release of the unburned hydrocarbons and other gases into the atmosphere.
• Department of Energy (DOE) is a cabinet-level agency of the federal government responsible for ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
• NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) is natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport.