Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Governing Principle

Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants, and advancing renewable energy sources all while remaining a leader in the nation's energy production. We have successfully balanced the need for environmental improvements with fostering economic growth, new investment, and job creation. Texas continues to advance new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable regulation, not costly mandates and taxes.

The Obama administration has taken yet another step in its campaign to harm our economy and impose federal control over Texas. With their efforts to take control of a permitting process that the Clean Air Act allows to be delegated to the states, the EPA is on the verge of killing thousands of Texas jobs and derailing a program that has effectively cleaned Texas' air. An increasingly activist EPA is ignoring the progress Texas has made to clean its air over the last decade, and should instead look to our state's successful approach to issues concerning energy and the environment.

Action Items

»  The air Texans breathe today is cleaner than it was in 2000, even though our population has grown by nearly 3.5 million people.
»  Between 2000 and 2008, while Texas NOx levels decreased by 46% and ozone levels by 22%, national NOx levels fell by only 27%, and national ozone levels declined by only 8%. In comparison, ozone levels in Illinois have only fallen by 12% since 1999.
»  All major Texas metropolitan areas currently meet the 1997 federal eight-hour ozone standard, with the exception of the DFW area, which is within 1 part per billion of meeting the standard. Preliminary data indicates that Houston met the standard for the first time in 2009.
»  In a comparison with 20 eastern and southern states that are most comparable to Texas because the location of industrial facilities and natural ozone levels, Texas is second only to Georgia (25%) in the largest decrease in ozone levels from 2000 to 2008.
»  Despite being the nation's energy capital, Texas has the eleventh lowest NOx emissions rate for power plants among all states according to EPA data.
»  According to Department of Energy and EPA data, since 2000, Texas' CO2 emissions from fossil fuel usage have actually fallen by more than almost any other state and every country except Germany as a result of our policies to foster renewable energy, make the electricity market more competitive and efficient, and improve our environment.

News & Announcements

Monday, May 06, 2013 • Houston, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Renews Call for More Offshore Energy Development, Consistent Federal Regulation

Gov. Rick Perry today renewed his call for more offshore energy development and consistent federal regulations in order to help our nation reach its goal of energy independence. The governor spoke at the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference as part of a panel of coastal governors.
Monday, April 29, 2013 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Perry on House Bill 11
Gov. Rick Perry today released the following statement regarding House Bill 11: The people of Texas expect their elected officials to address the water needs of our state, and we will do just that. This issue is too important to leave its fate uncertain, and I will work with lawmakers to ensure we address this need in a fiscally responsible manner.
Friday, August 24, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Asks Obama Administration to Waive Renewable Fuel Standard
Gov. Rick Perry today asked the Obama Administration to waive the mandated Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2012 and 2013. In a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, the governor added Texas to the list of states and leaders supporting the national Petition for Waiver or Partial Waiver of Applicable Volume of Renewable Fuel because of the mandate’s adverse impact on Texas.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Perry on Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
Today's court decision is further proof of an out-of-control and out-of-line EPA. On the heels of our recent flexible air permitting program victory, today's ruling further dismantles the misguided agenda of President Obama's activist, overreaching EPA that has no regard for the impact of its imprudent policies on states' economies or Americans' checkbooks.
Monday, August 13, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Perry on Court Ruling Regarding Texas’ Flexible Permitting Program
This decision is a big win for jobs and a big win for Texas. Our state has demonstrated you can cultivate jobs while cleaning the air, and this finding affirms that states have the right to develop permitting processes that balance the priorities of protecting the environment and allowing our industries to thrive.
Thursday, April 19, 2012 • Lake Jackson, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry Announces TEF Investment in Dow Chemical to Create 150 New Jobs in Brazoria County
Gov. Rick Perry announced that The Dow Chemical Co. will create 150 new jobs and $1.7 billion in capital investment with the location of a hydrocarbon cracker in Brazoria County. The governor was joined by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Dow CEO and Chairman Andrew Liveris and lawmakers, where he announced the state is investing $1 million through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) to close the deal on this project.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Perry on Federal Court Ruling Directing EPA to Reconsider Disapproval of Texas Permitting Process
Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement regarding a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) disapproval of TCEQ's Pollution Control Project Standard Permit. The court ruling directs the EPA to quickly reconsider its disapproval, after determining that the EPA acted "arbitrarily and capriciously".
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 • Taylor, Texas • Press Release
Gov. Perry: Texas Developing Power Sources to Meet Future Energy Needs
Gov. Rick Perry today toured the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) facility and met with energy officials to discuss plans for meeting Texas' rising demand for electricity. While the state's business-friendly environment has encouraged investment that has led to sufficient generation and transmission capacity for the near term, Texas' continued growth is likely to require expanded capacity in the years to come.
Friday, December 30, 2011 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Court Order to Stay Cross State Air Pollution Rule
Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to grant Texas' request for a stay to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)
Thursday, October 06, 2011 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Changes to CSAPR Rule
Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announced changes to the Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).
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