The Cool Down: Higher gas charges in Texas prompt tips on hot water, drafts, and after-dark chores
July 22 — With summer approaching, Texas Gas Service is advising El Paso customers on ways to limit home energy use as utility costs rise, after some residents raised concerns about higher gas bills earlier this year.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/higher-gas-charges-texas-prompt-202600921.html
KVUE: Who Will Lead Texas’ Oil & Gas Industry?
July 21 —In this episode hear from both Republican Bo French and Democrat Jon Rosenthal in their own words.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/politics/yall-itics/railroad-commissioner-election-texas-oil-gas-industry-yall-itics-july-17-2026/287-9c68d8f3-cd5c-4b9b-8606-836feffb6d56
PG Online: PowerPlay AI Plans 400-MW Data Center Powered by West Texas Gas Infrastructure
July 20 — PowerPlay AI plans to develop a 400-MW behind-the-meter AI data center near Abilene, Texas, with natural gas infrastructure expected to support the project’s targeted 2028 startup.
https://pgjonline.com/news/2026/july/powerplay-ai-plans-400-mw-data-center-powered-by-west-texas-gas-infrastructure
WFAA: GOP nominee for railroad commissioner campaigns on culture war issues, argues they’re more important to Texas voters
July 17 —French highlights culture war issues that seemingly have nothing to do with the Texas Railroad Commission, from stopping the “Islamic invasion of Texas” and ending DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in the Texas oil and gas industry, to establishing a pro-family credentialing program for Texas oil and gas operators.
wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/gop-nominee-for-railroad-commissioner-campaigns-on-culture-war-issues-argues-theyre-more-important-to-texas-voters/287-45e863eb-335a-4e75-9988-65109bf04bfc
KFOX: Texas Gas Service promotes summer energy-saving tips as El Paso customers watch bills
July 16 — As temperatures climb heading into summer and utility rates as well, Texas Gas Service shared steps customers can take to manage energy use and avoid high bills.
https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/texas-gas-service-promotes-summer-energy-saving-tips-as-el-paso-customers-watch-bills
Reuters: US company seeks to produce uranium for nuclear energy from seawater
July 14 — SuperCritical expects to deploy first in Texas and to work with 13 regulatory agencies to get permissions, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-company-seeks-produce-uranium-nuclear-energy-seawater-2026-07-14/
Dallas Morning News: Lawsuit filed against Atmos
July 11 — Pérez, who was out of town at the time of the May 28 explosion, is seeking more than $1 million in damages for continued mental anguish, medical and funeral costs, and the loss of his wife, Marisol Pérez, and their 18-month-old son Erik Pérez Jr.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20260711/281771340944269
KERA: Father files lawsuit against Atmos after son and wife’s death in Oak Cliff apartment explosion
July 10 — The lawsuit, filed by Erik Perez Sr., alleges Atmos frequently failed to properly mark its gas pipes in the area leading up to the explosion. It claims Atmos has thousands of leaking pipes and frequently fails to locate its own pipes.
https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-07-10/father-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-atmos-after-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion?_amp=true
Texas AFT: Ballot spotlight: Texas Railroad Commissioner
July 10 — With just about 4 months until the midterm general election, it’s important as supporters of public education to focus on the different statewide offices and thoughtfully consider their role in public education. The Railroad Commission (RRC) doesn’t get a lot of mainstream press, but it plays a hidden and essential role for public education.
https://www.texasaft.org/post/ballot-spotlight-texas-railroad-commissioner
KVUE: Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Atmos Energy for May Oak Cliff apartment explosion
July 9 — The filing states that Atmos Energy failed to properly address previously reported gas leaks at the complex and improperly marked the lines on the day of the explosion. The filing further states that because of these inaccurate markings, hired contractors began drilling and eventually hit the line, causing the explosion.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-against-atmos-energy-for-may-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion/287-5527e896-067f-4e1f-8f9a-0d8672442f3c
Natural Gas Intelligence: ERCOT, PJM Seen Driving Natural Gas-Fired Power Growth as CAISO Plummets
July 9 — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects nationwide natural gas-fired power generation to reach 1,788.6 billion kWh in 2027, up 5.0% from 2025.
https://naturalgasintel.com/news/ercot-pjm-seen-driving-natural-gas-fired-power-growth-as-caiso-plummets/
***
KMID: Texas energy infrastructure could get a boost under new federal proposal
July 8 — According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) would modernize FERC’s blanket certificate program by significantly expanding the types of natural gas infrastructure projects eligible for streamlined federal approval.
https://www.yourbasin.com/news/texas-energy-infrastructure-could-get-a-boost-under-new-federal-proposal/
NBC DFW: Second lawsuit filed against Atmos Energy after deadly Oak Cliff explosion
July 8 — A second lawsuit has been filed against Atmos Energy following the deadly apartment explosion in Oak Cliff that claimed three lives.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/video/news/local/second-lawsuit-filed-against-atmos-energy-after-deadly-oak-cliff-explosion/4046736/
NBC DFW: Nonprofit and victims of Oak Cliff apartment explosion face obstacles a month later
July 9 — More than a month after the explosion at The Bonnie Apartments in Oak Cliff, residents are still living without natural gas service. A local nonprofit says it has encountered obstacles while trying to help those affected.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/nonprofit-and-victims-of-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion-face-obstacles-a-month-later/4046979/
Tech44: SpaceX is laying an eight-mile gas pipeline called Starpipe to its Texas launch site, and the reason is pure Musk
July 4 — Why does a rocket company need a gas line? Because Starship, SpaceX’s massive next-generation rocket, uses about 630,000 gallons of liquid methane per launch, and Reuters reports that fuel is now brought in by hundreds of tanker trucks during an hours-long process.
https://okdiario.com/techy/en/spacex-is-laying-an-eight-mile-gas-pipeline-called-starpipe-to-its-texas-launch-site-and-the-reason-is-pure-musk/5939/
Pipeline & Gas Journal: Gas Line Was Not Marked Before Fatal Dallas Explosion, NTSB Says
July 2 — A natural gas line involved in the May 28 explosion that destroyed a Dallas apartment building had not been identified and marked before drilling began, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The explosion and subsequent fire killed three people, injured at least six others and remain under investigation.
https://pgjonline.com/news/2026/july/gas-line-was-not-marked-before-fatal-dallas-explosion-ntsb-says
Louisville Courier Journal: 4 things to know on proposed Texas Gas pipeline that could snake around Louisville
July 3 — A proposed natural gas pipeline in the greater Louisville area has sparked backlash from landowners, prompting discussions around transparency and safety.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2026/07/03/what-to-know-about-the-texas-gas-borealis-project-in-louisville/90709215007/
KERA News: Gas pipeline was not marked by locators before Oak Cliff apartment explosion, report says
July 1 — The NTSB’s report does not offer a cause of the gas explosion, instead largely providing a timeline of events. The detail about the gas line being unmarked was only mentioned in the footnotes of the report.
https://www.keranews.org/energy-environment/2026-07-01/ntsb-report-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion-dallas
NBC DFW: Dallas gas line was not marked before deadly fire, explosion, NTSB says
July 1 — The first federal report on a punctured natural gas line that exploded and destroyed a Dallas apartment building says the gas line had not been identified and marked before the May 28 blast.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ntsb-report-dallas-fire-apartment-building-explosion/4043728/
Texas Tribune: Bo French says Texas shouldn’t recognize babies born to undocumented parents as American citizens
June 30 — The Railroad Commission, a century-old agency governing the state’s enormous oil and gas industry, has no bearing on immigration issues, nor can the three-panel commissioners make decisions that affect a person’s immigration status — an issue French regularly weighs in on.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/30/bo-french-decries-birthright-citizenship-ruling/
Dallas Morning News: Former GOP candidate for Texas Railroad Commission will vote for Democratic nominee
June 30 — Hawk Dunlap, a fourth-generation oil worker who finished last among five candidates in the GOP primary in March, has endorsed state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Houston for the agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/former-gop-candidate-texas-railroad-202947947.html
Gizmodo: SpaceX Wants Its Own Gas Pipeline to Feed All the Starships
June 26 — Elon Musk’s rocket company wants to build its own gas pipeline as it pushes to control every step of Starship’s fuel supply.
https://gizmodo.com/spacex-wants-its-own-gas-pipeline-to-feed-all-the-starships-2000778302
Manufacturing: SpaceX plans to build ‘Starpipe’ natural gas pipeline to fuel Starship rockets
June 26 — The 40-story rocket is central to SpaceX’s push to expand its Starlink broadband network, deploy orbital AI data center satellites, and eventually carry astronauts to the moon and Mars.
https://manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/aerospace-defence/spacex-plans-to-build-starpipe-natural-gas-pipeline-to-fuel-starship-rockets/132009835
Austin Current: Paxton says Austin’s ‘electric-ready’ building code violates Texas law
June 26 — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion finding Austin code requiring new buildings to be “electric-ready” discriminates against natural gas.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/26/texas-austin-paxton-energy-code-unlawful-utility-gas-electric/
Reuters: SpaceX plans to build ‘Starpipe’ natural gas pipeline to fuel Starship rockets
June 25 — Starpipe, which will end at SpaceX’s Texas company town of Starbase, is expected to be in service by January 26, according to a document filed last month with the Texas Railroad Commission by SpaceX affiliate Lone Star Mineral Development and reviewed by Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spacex-plans-build-starpipe-natural-gas-pipeline-fuel-starship-rockets-2026-06-25/
Texas Tribune: Tensions with landowners rise as a raft of gas pipelines push through Texas properties
June 25 — Matterhorn Express, a pipeline entity majority-owned by the Austin-based infrastructure company WhiteWater Midstream, would transport Permian Basin gas 580 miles to the Houston area using the powers of eminent domain to sail through thousands of acres of private property.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/25/texas-natural-gas-pipelines-eminent-domain-land-fights/