Republican Party of Texas Resolution on Fossil Fuels

WHEREAS, our Federal government has declared a war on fossil fuels, which is a war on the citizens and economy of Texas; and

WHEREAS, our Federal government chooses winners and losers in electrical generation and favors the production of electric vehicles (EVs) by subsidizing these industries and by creating an economic disadvantage for natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear power plants, as well as for gasoline and natural gas powered vehicles; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, Texas’ oil and natural gas industry paid a record $24.7 billion in taxes and state royalties, shattering a previous high in 2019 by 54%¹; and

WHEREAS, these taxes and royalties go to Texas’ public schools, universities, roads, first responders and other essential services¹; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, the industry employed more than 442,000 Texans, and every direct job in the Texas oil and natural gas industry indirectly creates an additional 2.2 jobs in the Texas economy²; and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas is heavily invested in the petrochemical industry, which is fully dependent on crude oil refining; and

WHEREAS, solar and wind energy are not always reliable and can cause disruptions in the electrical grid, as seen in the historical freeze of 2021; and

WHEREAS, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and electric storage batteries for EVs and electric power generation cannot be recycled and must be disposed of in landfills or hazardous material sites; and

WHEREAS, an agency of the federal government is considering banning natural gas stoves and installation of natural gas piping in new construction; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls upon the Texas Legislature, Governor Greg Abbott, and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick:

1. To eliminate subsidies or rebates for solar, wind, EVs, grid electric storage batteries, and EV charging stations or to require equal subsidies or rebates from the Federal government to be paid to natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear plants and to crude oil refineries; and
2. To require manufacturers of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and batteries for EV and electric grid storage to recycle these components by 2030, or to legally dispose of these components outside the State of Texas; and
3. To require manufacturers of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and EVs that receive Federal subsidies or rebates to invest an equal amount in return to the electrical grid and to natural gas peak-power generation plants in Texas; and
4. To require manufacturers of wind turbines to implement an effective system to prevent collisions with migratory birds by 2030; and
5. To give a sales tax exemption for the purchase of natural gas stoves and all natural gas appliances.

1. Data from Texas Oil and Gas Association (https://www.txoga.org/2022eeir)
2. Data from Texas Oil and Gas Association (https://www.txoga.org/our-industry/economic-benefits)

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