November Commerce Club Luncheon Featuring Christi Craddick, Railroad Commission of Texas
Railroad Commission Enhances Efficiency to Move Projects Forward
Commissioner Christi Craddick of the Railroad Commission of Texas offered a look into the agency’s mission and top projects at the Port Bureau’s November Commerce Club luncheon.
“It's nice to be at the Greater Houston Port Bureau and speaking with people who understand how vital both the energy infrastructure and trade are all together and how important it is to the economy in Texas and to American security,” said Craddick in her opening remarks.
The Railroad Commission of Texas (“Railroad Commission” or “RRC”) celebrated 130 years of serving Texans in 2021 and is the state's oldest regulatory agency. Originally formed to prevent discrimination in railroad charges and establish reasonable tariffs, the Railroad Commission now is primarily responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry, natural gas utilities, pipeline safety, the natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry and surface coal and uranium mining in Texas.
Craddick has been with the Railroad Commission since 2012 and is its current commissioner. “I've gotten to see firsthand how Texas leads by not waiting for Washington to tell us what to do, but by working hard, by innovating, and building something real,” said Craddick. “Nowhere is the Texas spirit more visible than right here along the Gulf Coast … the port of Houston isn't just another port; it's the nerve center of the global energy market.”
When Craddick began to serve on the Railroad Commission, the agency faced many challenges. She described it as having outdated systems, slow permitting, and an inefficient process that slowed investment. Today the commission operates with greater transparency, faster permitting, taking drilling permitting from 90 days to 48 hours and modernizing data systems. The data for every well in Texas can be viewed online. Their focus has been to ensure supporting growth without compromising safety or environmental responsibility.
Craddick stressed the importance of the organization’s efficiency. “When the Commission's working well, projects move forward, jobs get created, and energy flows through ports like Houston faster and safer.” She said the Texas oil and gas industry created and put $27.3 billion into state and local taxes in 2024 – approximately $75 million a day – representing one third of the state's economy. This supports schools, roads, law enforcement, water, border security, and more. She noted that the oil and gas industry also directly employs nearly half a million Texans with an average salary of about $128,000 a year.
Looking ahead, the Railroad Commission is making responsible water use a top priority. Water is crucial not only for communities but for refining, shipping, and energy production. The agency has created a “produced water” pilot program. Produced water is water that flows back up after an oil well is drilled. This can result in as much as 15 million barrels of water a day in West Texas. The pilot program encourages recycling and reuse. They are partnering with Texas universities, such as Rice and Texas Tech, as well as industry stakeholders to advance new technologies that conserve freshwater while keeping energy production strong. The agency has worked to modernize waste management and recycling standards, ensuring environmental safeguards effectively match current technology.
The Railroad Commission has also created the Texas Hydrogen Policy Council to ensure hydrogen development strengthens rather than replaces the existing energy foundation. “Texas is leading the way in hydrogen and advanced fuels, all critical to the port of Houston. In fact, y'all. have a big hydrogen mix right here. This port's poised to become the nation's leading hydrogen export hub, connecting new energy technologies with global demand,” said Craddick.
Thank you to our Commerce Club sponsors!
Annual Table sponsors:
Callan Marine • Chevron/Kirby • Enterprise Products Partners • Kinder Morgan • Houston Pilots • Intercontinental Terminals Company • Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. • Pemex • Port Houston • Targa Resources • TGS Ceder Port Industrial Park • WGMA
November Table sponsors: