Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner, stops by the Energy Impacts podcast, and we will cover all of the critical oil, gas, and regulatory updates from the Texas Railroad Commissioner.

In this fast-paced and candid conversation, Commissioner Christian shares powerful insights on Texas’s dominant role in U.S. energy production, the fragile future of the electric grid, the real costs of wind and solar, and why misguided climate policies are putting reliability and taxpayers at risk. From the Permian Basin’s future to legislative battles over energy equity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone tracking the crossroads of policy, energy, and economics.

This is a critical time, and this update you won't want to miss.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction and Commissioner Wayne Christian’s background

01:36 – History of the Railroad Commission as an environmental agency

04:54 – Importance of oil & gas to economy and modern life

07:02 – Grid stability post-Winter Storm Uri

08:16 – The risk of over-reliance on renewables in Texas

10:31 – IRA subsidies, failed legislation, and unfair energy market rules

13:36 – Commission funding and orphan well challenges

16:50 – Environmentalism as “religion” and conflicts with human benefit

18:36 – Wind/solar decommissioning costs and environmental damage

21:38 – Carbon capture criticism and taxpayer impact

26:08 – Deregulation, shareholder control, and lobby influence

29:47 – Consolidation in Permian Basin and economic disincentives

33:29 – Remaining reserves, oil efficiency, and regulatory contradiction

36:41 – Closing remarks and final thanks