Big 2 Energy Report: Stop Taxation!
By: Mycah Glover
Updated: July 26, 2010
The taxation that's been proposed on drilling companies could be devastating to our local economy. Big 2 had the chance to catch up with, Rep. Jim Keffer (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resourses. He explained some steps we can take to keep that taxation from happening in the U.S.
"One thing that we have to do is make sure does not happen is that we have a moratorium on drilling, which has been suggested by some in the legislature already," says Rep. Keffer.
One of the main ways we can do that, according to Rep. Keffer, is to be a team player. A good example is the City of Midland, who spent over a year working with residents to pass an ordinance that now allows drilling within the city limits. "Cities all cross this state were watching what the City of Midland was going to do and how that was going to be finally resolved," says Rep. Keffer. "And I think we do need to make sure that drill sites are the least problematic."
But the majority of Midlanders are more educated when it comes to the oil business. In other parts of the state, that's not the case. And that's where the words "team player" need to come into the picture. "Instead of just coming in and saying by law, we can come in and drill here or put a pipline here, we need to go in and explain to people and communicate with people what we're doing," says Rep. Keffer.
One of the best ways oil companies can do this is to take a look back and learn from previous mistakes. "There have been so many issues that, in the beginning of the problem, if people would have just stopped and explained why they were doing this and maybe there was a better way for this pineline, maybe there was a better drilling site for this disposal well. A lot of the angst, the problems that we're facing, could have been resolved earlier on, "says Keffer.
And when it comes to Washington, Rep. Keffer says, "we have to make sure, not just fight against it, but show people that the oil and gas industry can be good citizens. That we're not just the bad guy."
