News

Wayne Christian's Press Room

News Items - 2024

• Christian: EPA Report on Methane Reduction Proves Biden’s Methane Policies are Another Lie and Unjustified Assault on Oil & Gas

  December 13, 2024
  

  This week’s news of a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report showed that methane emissions from the largest oil and natural gas-producing basins fell 44 percent between 2011-2013; and also dropped in seven oil and natural gas-producing basins by up to 87 percent from 2019-2023. Following the update, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian criticized the Biden Administration for creating new rules and taxes on oil and gas producers and power plants:

  “President Biden’s own EPA said the quiet part out loud that the industry is already mitigating methane emissions, revealing that the true motive behind his horrendous policies is to squeeze the life out of the oil and gas industry,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “Radical environmentalists love to pick and choose ‘science’ that justifies their ‘sky is falling’ narrative that the world is ending and fossil fuels are to blame. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, just like they like to ignore the fact that EPA regulated emissions are down 78 percent in the last fifty years.

  President-elect Trump’s number one priority should be to scrap Biden’s onerous and unnecessary methane rules and taxes attacking Texas oil and gas. These rules are the death knell for small mom and pop operators, who produce more than 83 percent of America’s oil and gas.”

  Note: Texas’ statewide flaring rate is stable and low at around 1 percent. This means 99 percent of the natural gas produced in Texas is beneficially used to heat homes, cook food and power the Texas economy.

  

• Christian Applauds SCOTUS’ Overturning Chevron Deference to Rein in Radical, Unelected Bureaucrats

  June 28, 2024
  

  AUSTIN – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo empowered federal judges to use independent judgment in deciding whether a government agency has acted within its statutory authority. By overruling the 1984 Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council –also known as Chevron deference–the Court has ended the practice of federal courts deferring to the legal interpretations of government agencies. Following this historic ruling, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian applauded the decision saying:

  “For years, liberal unelected government bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. have run roughshod over Americans. That ends now. Thanks to three SCOTUS justices appointed by President Trump, the problem has been fixed. Federal judges now have the authority to rein in runaway bureaucrats, who treat the Constitution like toilet paper and hand out red tape like its Halloween candy,” said Commissioner Christian. “The importance of overturning Chevron deference cannot be overstated. It’s a profound shift in law. After the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, this is the most consequential decision out of the court in years.” 

  Christian continued, “This is huge for Texas and other fossil fuel producing states, who must provide reliable energy to Americans and the world. Radical environmentalist administrations, like President Biden’s, hand over the ‘keys to the kingdom’ to federal agencies when Congress doesn’t give them the policies they want. I look forward to thoughtful judges dismantling many of the radical ‘green’ policies pushed by this administration that inhibit our domestic oil and gas production.” 

   

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  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

• Christian Calls on Biden to End LNG Ban to Save Europe

  June 25, 2024
  

  Following recent reports that the Biden Administration’s federal moratorium on new liquified natural gas (LNG) export plants is prohibiting Ukraine from purchasing American LNG, Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian slammed the administration’s policy and called on the president to rescind the ban.

  “This politically motivated ban is doing more than simply costing America economic activity— it’s jeopardizing our European allies and U.S. interests abroad,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “At a time when our allies need U.S. energy the most, President Biden is making it harder for them to access it. Ukraine’s deal for American LNG could be the leverage the West needs to gain an upper hand on Putin by ending Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and depriving Putin of his primary revenue source to fund his unjust war. American fossil fuels can once again be the ‘hope of the free world’ – but only if Biden will let it.”

  You can read the letter here.

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  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

   

   

• Oil & Gas Regulator: Biden Isn’t Savin’ Lizards, He’s Shutting Down American Oil & Gas

  May 17, 2024
  

  Today, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) announced it would be listing the Dune Sagebrush Lizard as an endangered species under the Endanger Species Act (ESA). The Biden Administration made this designation, despite years of public and private collaborative efforts protecting the lizard, which have resulted in increased land conservation and rebounding populations.  Following the news, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said the follow:

  “This doesn’t have a thing to do with ‘saving lizards’; it’s about shutting down U.S. oil and gas production to win political brownie points, which will only increase inflation and jeopardize billions of lives globally,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a lizard, a chicken, a whale, or a unicorn, radical environmentalists won’t be satisfied until we all get out energy from firewood and are living in a cave again. To them, this is about ending fossil fuels to ‘better humanity’, which is ironic given they allow mankind to flourish by powering 80% of the globe’s energy, manufacturing 96% of consumer products, and helping to feed more than half the planet. Right now, the world needs more energy and more Texas oil and gas, and all this does is drive up prices and make it harder on consumers.”

  “Texas will certainly fight this most recent ESA weaponization, which aims to shut down half the nation’s crude oil production and one-third of its natural gas production,” continued Christian. “Texans can rest assured that the RRC and other state agencies won’t lift a finger to help with this nonsense, because the Texas Energy Independence Act prohibits state agencies from facilitating any effort that would undermine Texas oil and gas production.”

  Christian previously sent a letter to USFWS opposing the ESA designation.

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  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

• Christian Cheers Lawsuit Over Biden’s Unreliable Power Plan

  May 10, 2024
  

  Following reports that 27 states’ Attorney Generals filed lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over their new rules for fossil fuel-based power plants dictating carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), Commissioner Wayne Christian applauded the news and said the following:

  “President Biden is hellbent on making American’s energy more expensive and less reliable just to virtue signal to his radical environmentalist friends and his globalist allies,” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “These rules are an EPA ultimatum to fossil fuel-based power producers: eliminate CO2 or we’ll eliminate you. If Biden’s successful with his ‘Unreliable Power Plan,’ it’ll only mean more taxpayer-subsidized wind and solar energy, less dispatchable power for US energy grids and potential blackouts across the country. Here in Texas, ERCOT already issued their first power warning based on temperatures and its only May. I applaud General Paxton and the other states on this legal challenge and pray they’re successful in overturning this horrible rule."

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  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

• Christian Blasts Biden’s LNG Attack at House Committee Hearing

  May 02, 2024
  

  Today, Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian testified before the House Select Committee on Protecting Texas Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Exports.

  Earlier this year, the Biden Administration announced it was pausing approval for pending and future applications to export LNG. Texas ships out about half of the nation’s LNG. In 2023, Texas increased its LNG exports to Europe substantially, reaching a record-high of 8.1 billion cubic feet per day in October 2023.

  “Throughout his time in office, President Biden has unnecessarily put the United States and our allies at a severe geopolitical disadvantage just for the sake of virtue signaling that he is progressive on climate change,” said Commissioner Christian. “His pause on LNG exports is nothing more than election year politics at its worst because it will do nothing to reduce emissions, while making energy more expensive and less accessible for our allies in their time of need.” 

  “Since taking office, the Biden administration has used every attack possible to destroy Texas oil and gas from EPA nonattainment threats to Endangered Species Act designations, adding red tape and creating new taxes, and flooding the market with billions of taxpayer dollars for more wind and solar,” continued Christian. “Texas LNG is the hope for the free world. At today’s hearing, Texas leaders sent a clear message that we will continue to fight this ‘keep-it-in-the-ground’ agenda, because providing life-saving reliable energy to the world is our responsibility.”

  In January, Christian sent a letter to President Biden urging him not to move forward with the pause on new LNG projects. Then in February, he applauded House Republicans for passing H.R. 7176, which could overturn Biden’s actions on LNG.

   

  

  Commissioner Christian testifying before the House Select Committee on Protecting Texas LNG Exports at Lamar State College in Port Arthur, TX.

   

  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

• Christian Pens Letter to Legislative Leaders Concerning Eco-Terrorism Materials Taught in Colleges

  April 24, 2024
  

  Following a Washington Times report about “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” being taught at universities in various states, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian sent a letter to Senator Brandon Creighton and Representative John Kuempel, higher education committees chairs in the Texas Legislature, highlighting concerns of radical environmentalists’ materials being taught in universities and colleges. The Commissioner said the following about the issue:

  “Safeguarding America’s energy infrastructure is paramount, and we cannot overlook the looming threat of eco-terrorism aimed at pipelines, refineries, and processing plants,” said Christian. “The teaching of ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ in colleges is deeply troubling. We must prevent radical agendas from indoctrinating future generations with anti-American propaganda with our tax dollars. I want to encourage the legislature to look into whether any Texas universities or colleges are teaching ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ or other related eco-terrorism-based materials.”

   

  You can read the letter here.

• Texas Oil & Gas Commissioner Applauds State Board of Education’s Cancellation of BlackRock’s $8.5 Billion Contract

  March 19, 2024
  

  Following news that the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) and Chairman Aaron Kinsey would terminate an $8.5 billion contract with BlackRock, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian applauded the SBOE’s decision, which protects Texas' Permanent School Fund and classrooms across the state, and said the following:

  “Texas state leadership continues to land blows to BlackRock and woke financial corporations pushing a pro-ESG/anti-fossil fuel agenda!” said Commissioner Wayne Christian. “Our great state should NOT be doing business with a financial institution that wants to end oil and gas, brainwash kids to hate fossil fuels, and jeopardize our energy freedom. As the 9^th largest economy in the world with businesses regularly relocating headquarters to the Lone Star State, I’d suggest to BlackRock and other woke Wall Street firms to wake up and realize that fossil fuels aren’t the enemy that radical environmentalists have portrayed them to be. I want to give kudos to Chairman Kinsey, Tom Maynard, Julie Pickren and the other SBOE board members, who continue to defend the values and resources that make Texas, ‘Texas’.”

  In November 2024, Commissioner Christian encouraged and celebrated SBOE’s rejection of anti-oil and gas school materials and promotion of oil and gas’ benefits. 

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  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

   

• Texas Oil & Gas Regulator Supports House Republican Vote to Repeal Biden’s LNG Export Ban

  February 15, 2024
  

  In January 2024, the Biden Administration announced a pause on permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects. In response to this pause, it was announced that the U.S. House of Representatives would be voting on H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act (Rep. Pflueger, TX-11), which would repeal the Biden Administration’s ban on new LNG export projects. Following the news, Texas Railroad Commission Wayne Christian said the following:

  “U.S. LNG is life-saving energy to our allies, and I don’t know about the president, but I’d much rather have the world buying American natural gas over foreign or hostile nations,” said Commissioner Christian. “President Joe Biden’s politically motivated pause on new LNG export projects hurts consumers, Texans’ jobs, slows the U.S. economy, makes energy more expensive, and jeopardizes the lives our foreign allies.”

  “H.R. 7176 will put pressure on the Biden Administration to remove their political and unnecessary blockade on LNG export projects which are vital to Texas, America, and the world. It’s a great bill, and I applaud Rep. Pfluger and House Republicans for fighting back,” continued Christian. “If America cuts off LNG shipments, it will allow China, Iran, and Russia’s influence to grow. Our nation should be THE global energy leader – not through unreliable and heavily subsidized “green” energy – but through the responsible production and export of oil and gas.”

  To read the letter click here.

• Christian: Biden’s LNG Policies Leave Americans with Higher Costs & Our European Allies in a Deadly Situation

  January 26, 2024
  

  Following news that the Biden Administration would effectively pause new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said the following: 

  “Texas natural gas is saving the free world, and President Biden wants to end it. His administration’s pause on new liquified natural gas export (LNG) plants may recklessly endanger European lives, many of whom are facing a harsh winter with less access to life-saving energy,” said Commissioner Christian. “Europe came to rely on unreliable wind/solar energy too much. Since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the destruction of the Nord stream pipeline, and Europe’s justified ban on Russian gas, many European nations scrambled to provide reliable energy to save their citizens through importing LNG, burning wood, and reclassifying natural gas as a “green” energy source. But American LNG stepped up for our allies in their hour of need, with 20% of our LNG exports going to Europe. But this new pause could put those European citizens right back winter’s deadly, cold grip this season.”

  Christian continued, “This move by the Biden Administration is just the latest in a long line of actions to dismantle American oil and gas production and does NOT eliminate emissions. It simply exports them to dirtier and more hostile producers overseas. President Biden will always choose his climate catastrophist friends over increasing fossil fuel production to lower energy costs—for Americans and our allies.

  Anti-energy policies by the Biden Administration and the woke left will decrease human flourishing and lead to death. Our energy strategy should be benefiting mankind by increasing production of our domestic fossil fuels and exporting that reliable energy.”
  
  

   

  Background:

  Previously, Commissioner Christan sent a letter to President Biden urging him not to move forward with the pause on new LNG project.

  
  
  A lifelong conservative businessman, Wayne Christian was elected as our 50th Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2016. Prior to his time at the Commission, Christian served seven sessions in the Texas House of Representatives, accumulating a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations. Christian is married to his wife, Lisa, and together they have three daughters, Liza, Lindsey and Lauren. You can learn more about Chairman Christian here.

• Texas Oil & Gas Commissioner Slams Biden Administration’s Pending Decision to Cap US LNG Exports

  January 24, 2024
  

  Austin – Recent media reports revealed that the Biden Administration is considering a pause on permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects. Following the news, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm criticizing the potential action and encouraging them to grow LNG exports to support America’s allies abroad.  

  “America becoming energy dominant again – like in 2019 – is the key to restoring global order, and that starts with a strong LNG export industry,” said Commissioner Christian. “I don’t know about President Biden, but I’d much rather have the world buy America’s clean natural gas over gas anywhere else. LNG can be a beacon of hope, where many countries no longer produce their own fossil fuels due to the Net Zero agenda. Our energy strategy should be to increase production of our domestic fossil fuels and export that reliable energy to our allies across the globe.”

   

  Read the letter here.