LAREDO — A group of high school students gathered to hear state Representative Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat from Houston, discuss the intricacies of underground carbon dioxide injection, data centers, and their connection to the Texas Railroad Commission, the regulatory body overseeing the state’s oil and gas sector.
While attendees enjoyed pizza and wings, Rosenthal explained to Lucy Quintanilla, a retiree, how the underground disposal of wastewater from oil extraction has contributed to seismic activity in the Permian Basin, a key oil-producing region in West Texas.
“I think we all learned a little bit more from our conversation with (Rosenthal),” remarked 17-year-old Chris Benavides, a member of Webb County’s young Democrats, after attending Rosenthal’s inaugural town hall meeting as he campaigns for a seat on the Railroad Commission.
Rosenthal, who has a background as an oil field engineer and has served four terms in the House, addressed questions regarding the oil and gas sector and the commission he aspires to join. This event served as a gauge of whether his expertise and message would resonate with a public largely unaware of the commission’s functions.
In the upcoming election, Rosenthal will compete against Bo French, a prominent Republican strategist who previously chaired the Tarrant County Republican Party. French’s campaign has significantly focused on cultural issues, including controversial remarks questioning the perceived threats posed by Jewish and Muslim communities. In March, he controversially suggested deporting 100 million people, which is about a third of the nation’s population.
After both candidates secured their primary nominations in March, French initiated attacks on Rosenthal, targeting a social media post from 2021 in which Rosenthal wore a mask stating, “Protect Trans Kids.”
Rosenthal has expressed his intention to pivot away from such divisive issues, instead aiming to inform voters about the critical role of the Railroad Commission, which is often overlooked but oversees nearly half of the oil supply in the United States. The agency also manages an increasing number of abandoned oil and gas wells, many of which have become sources of oil and gas wastewater, leading to significant environmental remediation costs.
Rather than using the town hall to detail his policy proposals, Rosenthal focused on demonstrating his knowledge of the challenges the Railroad Commission faces.
Local residents who spoke after Saturday’s event indicated they gained a deeper understanding of the Railroad Commission, especially concerning environmental issues like flaring, the process of burning off excess gas at oil production sites.
Pamela Neumann, a sociology professor at a nearby university, noted that she left the event with greater awareness of the commission’s limitations, including its insufficient workforce and tight budget, which Rosenthal highlighted. “It seems that the Railroad Commission is actually under-resourced to effectively enforce existing regulations that ensure oil companies comply with the law,” Neumann observed. “I was also surprised to learn about the repeated granting of permits to polluting companies, which is quite concerning. These companies, while beneficial to our economy, can also pose significant environmental risks.”
Melissa Cigarroa, a newly elected member of the Laredo City Council, challenged Rosenthal on issues like data centers, oil field pollution, and water concerns, illustrating what she perceived as the Texas Legislature’s failures to address these matters. She also raised alarms about the vulnerability of the state’s power grid amid unprecedented electricity demands.
“Having a mechanical engineer at the Railroad Commission, who will be at the forefront of addressing Texas’s energy needs, is far more promising than someone who feeds off of racism and conspiracy theories,” she stated, referring to French. “It’s simply not a serious candidate for such a vital position.”
