The United States needs to take the lead and work with our neighbors in Canada and Mexico to end our reliance on fuel from hostile regimes.
The U.S. traditionally relies on oil from terrorist-supporting and aggressively anti-American nations that make up the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. This dependence puts our entire homegrown oil and gas industry at risk, and it needs to end.
The recent slump in oil prices gives consumers a glimpse of the volatility that the American energy industry constantly faces. These unstable and sometimes radical market changes pose a heavy burden on Texas families and businesses in need of job stability and financial security. Today, we are paying the price for our over reliance on OPEC and its harsh regimes. The U.S. needs to neutralize OPEC’s stronghold, and we should start by working with our non-OPEC neighbors to the north and south. By fostering energy relationships with Mexico and Canada, we reduce our dependency on terrorist-sponsoring, anti-American nations.
For example, after decades of economic hardship in Mexico, the country’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, is determined to stimulate economic growth by making a historic change: Open Mexico’s energy sector to private investment after more than 75 years of state-run monopoly. By opening up to private investment, Mexico’s energy production will increase substantially. We must seize this opportunity to strengthen our economic and political security. A strong relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and Canada will help make North American energy the global standard.
Hopefully, the Mexican government — with help from Texas — will create a stable regulatory environment for its energy industry that is conducive to Texas businesses and allows both countries to maximize their production potential. To help establish this partnership, I have traveled throughout Mexico to speak with other elected officials and energy leaders about business opportunities in Mexico for Texans and the importance of having a free-market regulatory framework.
Most recently, I accepted an invitation from Gov. Egidio Torre Cantú to visit the state of Tamaulipas. Texas and Tamaulipas share the energy-rich Eagle Ford Shale formation, and like Texas, Tamaulipas is at the forefront of its country’s energy production.
During my visit, I accompanied Gov. Torre on a tour of his state’s energy plants and deep-water ports and discussed his vision for Tamaulipas in light of his nation’s energy reforms. I was happy to learn that he proactively reached out to Texas for guidance on infrastructure, energy regulation and emerging drilling technologies. For example, he enlisted the help of his alma mater — the University of Texas — when he created the Tamaulipas Energy Agency, an energy research group composed of public agencies, private companies and academic institutions.
Gov. Torre understands that fostering a relationship with Texas is critical for a successful energy sector, and we need to understand that it behooves our state and nation to foster a relationship with Mexico’s energy sector as well.
On a local level, these reforms in Mexico create more business opportunities for Texas, which translates into more jobs and more revenue for our state. On a larger scale, these reforms give North America access to a more secure and abundant energy supply that hopefully stabilizes the crude prices needed to continue growing our overall economy.
Most importantly, though, a secure domestic oil and gas supply also reduces America’s need to purchase fuel from nations that would do us harm. Let’s not leave ourselves beholden to the whims of OPEC and hostile regimes. Let’s help make America energy independent by working with our neighbors.
Porter has been a member of the Texas Railroad Commission since 2011.
