Governing Principle
Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants, and advancing renewable energy sources all while remaining a leader in the nation's energy production. We have successfully balanced the need for environmental improvements with fostering economic growth, new investment, and job creation. Texas continues to advance new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable regulation, not costly mandates and taxes.
The Obama administration has taken yet another step in its campaign to harm our economy and impose federal control over Texas. With their efforts to take control of a permitting process that the Clean Air Act allows to be delegated to the states, the EPA is on the verge of killing thousands of Texas jobs and derailing a program that has effectively cleaned Texas' air. An increasingly activist EPA is ignoring the progress Texas has made to clean its air over the last decade, and should instead look to our state's successful approach to issues concerning energy and the environment.
Action Items
» The air Texans breathe today is cleaner than it was in 2000, even though our population has grown by nearly 3.5 million people.» Between 2000 and 2008, while Texas NOx levels decreased by 46% and ozone levels by 22%, national NOx levels fell by only 27%, and national ozone levels declined by only 8%. In comparison, ozone levels in Illinois have only fallen by 12% since 1999.
» All major Texas metropolitan areas currently meet the 1997 federal eight-hour ozone standard, with the exception of the DFW area, which is within 1 part per billion of meeting the standard. Preliminary data indicates that Houston met the standard for the first time in 2009.
» In a comparison with 20 eastern and southern states that are most comparable to Texas because the location of industrial facilities and natural ozone levels, Texas is second only to Georgia (25%) in the largest decrease in ozone levels from 2000 to 2008.
» Despite being the nation's energy capital, Texas has the eleventh lowest NOx emissions rate for power plants among all states according to EPA data.
» According to Department of Energy and EPA data, since 2000, Texas' CO2 emissions from fossil fuel usage have actually fallen by more than almost any other state and every country except Germany as a result of our policies to foster renewable energy, make the electricity market more competitive and efficient, and improve our environment.
Related Content
Governor Rick Perry's Letter to President Obama
May 28, 2010
TCEQ Commissioner Defends Texas' Air Permit Program
Texas Takes Legal Action Against Federal Government over EPA CO2 Mandates
Texas Takes Legal Action Against Federal Government over EPA CO2 Mandates
Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
News & Announcements
- Wednesday, February 02, 2011 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Rolling Power Outages across the State
Gov. Rick Perry made the following statement about rolling power outages resulting from the winter weather system sweeping across the state. - Thursday, December 30, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Announces Two University Research Superiority Grants and TETF Investments In Four Companies
Gov. Rick Perry has announced two research superiority grants to Texas universities and investments in four companies through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) for the development and commercialization of their innovative technologies. - Wednesday, December 08, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Announces TEF Investment Bringing More Than 150 Jobs to Conroe
Gov. Rick Perry today announced an $865,000 investment through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) in Jyoti Americas, which will create a state of the art U.S. manufacturing facility for high voltage transmission lines in Conroe. This investment, which will create 157 jobs and generate an estimated $34 million in capital investment, is conditioned upon the finalization of a local incentive agreement with the City of Conroe. - Tuesday, October 05, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Speaks at Clean Carbon Policy Summit
Gov. Rick Perry today highlighted Texas’ efforts to diversify its energy portfolio and clean the air, while creating jobs and growing the state’s economy over the past decade. The governor spoke at the 6th Annual Clean Carbon Policy Summit and Project Expo, which provides academic and industry professionals with an in-depth look at policy and technology issues involved with meeting Texas’ electricity needs. - Friday, October 01, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Speech
Gov. Perry Speaks at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association's Fall Meeting
You embody the rugged endurance of the American spirit and that unique Texan stubbornness that has caused our Republic and our state to endure and will be its strength in the days to come to all the members of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association along with your families past, present and future. I want to congratulate you for your tireless work commend you for your contribution to our state and thank you for friendship over the years. - Thursday, September 16, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Urges Federal Response on Rio Grande Levee Maintenance
Gov. Rick Perry has sent a letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu urging them to expedite the disbursement of millions in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades and the rehabilitation of flood control levees in the Rio Grande Valley. The federal International Boundaries and Water Commission (IBWC) is responsible for maintenance of levees and drains in parts of Texas, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley. - Wednesday, September 01, 2010 • Nederland, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Energy Industry Helps Our Economy Lead the Nation
Gov. Rick Perry today met with plant managers from the Baytown area at the Southeast Texas Plant Managers Forum to discuss Texas’ economy and the role of the state’s petrochemical industry in fueling the nation. - Wednesday, August 11, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Texas Challenge of Offshore Drilling Moratorium
Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding Texas’ lawsuit against the Obama Administration over its offshore drilling moratorium: - Friday, July 30, 2010 • Laredo, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Emerging Technologies Will Help Texas Meet Future Energy Challenges
Gov. Rick Perry today highlighted the importance of pursuing new technologies to find sustainable solutions for Texas’ growing energy needs. The governor announced a $2.75 million investment through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) in Terrabon Inc. for the commercialization of its technology to convert non-food biomass into bio fuels. - Friday, July 30, 2010 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Federal Proposals To Take Over Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding legislation contemplated by Congress that would effectively strip states of the right to regulate oil and gas exploration and production within their own borders: - Page 3 of 18 pages « Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next » Last