Governor Greg Abbott Thursday held a roundtable discussion in Odessa with energy workers, leaders, and advocates on how Texas can continue to support the energy industry and its workers.
Following the roundtable, the Governor held a press conference where he issued an Executive Order to protect Texas' energy industry from what he referred to as the federal overreach of the Biden Administration. The Governor also announced his support for legislation that will prohibit cities from banning natural gas appliances.
In the order Abbott wrote that President Biden 'signaled extreme hostility' towards the energy industry and Texas by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and pushing Green New Deal policies. Abbott read aloud the executive order that called for "every state agency to use all lawful powers and tools to challenge any federal action that threatens the continued strength, vitality and independence of the energy industry."
Abbott compared this new plan of dealing with a Democratic President to when he was Attorney General and sued the Obama Administration 31 times. "Texas will continue with that litigation strategy to fight back against any efforts by the Biden Administration that threaten either the energy sector in general, or jobs in the energy sector, in particular in Texas," said Governor Abbott.
"The men and women who work in the energy industry produce the affordable energy that powers our lives and they are vital to the Texas economy," said Abbott. "Texas is a pro-energy state, and we will not sit idly by and allow the Biden administration or local governments to destroy jobs and raise energy costs for Texas families. My Executive Order will help ensure that the federal government cannot take away the livelihoods of Texans who work so hard to provide our state and our nation with the energy we need."
