29 March 2024
The Permian flaring interview: Chrysta Castañeda, Democrat candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner
Publication date: 03 February 2020
Gas Strategies Group
10 Saint Bride Street
London UK
EC4A 4AD
ISSN: 0964-8496
Twitter @GasStrategies
Editorials
Subscriptions
Natural gas flaring and venting rates in Texas are at record highs [1], exceeding 750 MMcf/d in Q3’19, and the local regulator of the oil and gas industry, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), is facing growing criticism for its readiness to grant flaring permits. The backlash has been so intense that the chairman of the Commission and the incumbent of one of three seats, Wayne Christian, last year appeared to backtrack on the necessity of flaring in the Permian. Sentiment in the state will shortly be tested following the decision of a prominent Dallas-based attorney to stand as a Democrat candidate for an RRC commissioner post, one of which comes up for election in 2020, to oppose natural gas flaring. In this exclusive interview, Gas Matters asks Chrysta Castañeda why she has chosen to oppose the Republican incumbent and how she would begin to tackle the problem if elected.