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, August 19, 2009 • Dallas, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Incentives will Create New Clean Energy Sources
Gov. Rick Perry today emphasized the importance of incentives, not burdensome mandates, to develop clean and renewable energy sources at a ceremonial bill signing for House bills 469 and 432. The governor also called on Washington to reject cap and trade legislation that would be the largest tax increase in the history of our country. - Tuesday, August 11, 2009 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
In Case You Missed It: Washington view: Texas economy shining brightly despite recession
In Texas, business is booming. In 2008, 70 percent of all jobs created in the United States were created in Texas. That same year, Texas was named America's Top State for Business in CNBC's second annual study that scored states on 40 different competitiveness measures. Texas now surpasses New York as home to the most Fortune 500 companies, and Texas dominated Forbes' "Best Cities for Jobs in 2008" list with five cities in the top 20. While the nation's unemployment rate is 9.5 percent, the rate in Texas is 7.5 percent. And while our state faces a $9 billion deficit, Texas has a $9 billion surplus. Instead of raising taxes, Texas is cutting them. How did they do it? Gov. Rick Perry says holding the line on taxes, having a reasonable regulatory structure and offering economic development incentives such as the Texas Enterprise Fund and Texas Emerging Technology Fund have attracted hundreds of employers to Texas. He notes that 7,300 new jobs were created in Texas in November 2008 alone. - Thursday, July 09, 2009 • Speech
Gov. Perry Addresses Houston Realty Business Coalition
"It is great to be here today with a group of people who play such a key role in the remarkable strength of our state’s economy. You real estate professionals are the people Texas employers look to for an essential element of their business plan a place to manufacture their products refine their services and interface with their customers. You might say you give visionaries a launching pad for their dreams. Well, I hope your vision remains intact as you deal with the fallout of the global economic situation." - Friday, June 26, 2009 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Cap and Trade Would Be Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History and Hurt Texas' Economy
Gov. Rick Perry has urged Texas leaders in Washington to vote against House Resolution 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would amount to the single largest tax increase in U.S. history and hurt the Texas economy. - Tuesday, June 09, 2009 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Cap and Trade Could Severely Hurt Texas' Economy
Gov. Rick Perry today stated his concern about the impact of proposed cap and trade legislation and possible regulation of CO2 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Texas’ energy industry and economy. The governor hosted a roundtable discussion with state and industry leaders to discuss their concerns about the proposed regulations. - Tuesday, June 09, 2009 • Speech
Gov. Perry Addresses Graduating Texas Game Wardens
"Sometimes, like anyone else who goes in harm’s way, Game Wardens need rescuing themselves. When you battle the forces of nature, sometimes there are casualties. When you confront people whose sport involves weapons, you take a calculated but necessary risk. And you do so because you are the sort of person who is willing to take a stand for what is right. Know that we will continue to do everything in our power to watch your back while you defend the interests of our people, and lift you up in prayer to our Creator as you defend His creation." - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Now is the Time to Secure the Water Supply for Texas' Future
Gov. Rick Perry today emphasized the need to fund the State Water Plan, which would ensure a cost-effective and reliable supply of water for Texas’ growing population well into the future. Speaking at the Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA) Conference, the governor proposed that funding be provided to a new infrastructure account to speed the construction of water reservoir sites
Introduced by Jerry L. Clark (President, Texas Water Conservation Association), Gov. Perry discusses the importance of securing Texas' water supply. - Monday, February 09, 2009 • Speech
Gov. Perry Addresses Delegations from Grayson, Denton and Collin Counties
As you spend time here in Austin, talking to legislators and presenting a clear picture of the “situation on the ground” in your area, understand that we’re all in the same boat, and we all have to look at ways to tighten our belts and run our organizations in a leaner fashion, just like Texas families are having to do more every day. - Tuesday, January 27, 2009 • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Texas’ Relative Strength a Result of Principled Decisions
AUSTIN – In light of a bleak national economy that is beginning to impact Texas, Gov. Rick Perry today called on legislators in his State of the State address to stay the course with proven fiscal principles and policy initiatives that have made Texas the number one job creator in the nation.
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus open for Governor Rick Perry, who gives his 2009 State of the State Address. - Thursday, January 15, 2009 • Speech
Gov. Perry Speaks at Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies
"There are folks from other parts of the world who wonder what makes a person climb onto the back of an angry bull, or what drives someone to practice their roping technique about a million times, but I think we know. We know that being a cowboy is about truly embracing life, of testing personal limits and directly connecting with the beauty of God’s creation." - Page 7 of 18 pages First « Prev 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next » Last