Commissioner Ryan Sitton Tells Industry Council on the Environment, “Technology, Not Regulations, to Thank for U.S. Reduced Emissions”

HOUSTON  — Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton addressed the role of technology in the energy industry and its impact on U.S. emissions at the Industry Council on the Environment (ICE) luncheon today in Houston. 

As an advisory group made up of engineers and environmental consultants, ICE works directly with government and industry to promote the development, understanding and use of reasonable environmental policy. 

“As the U.S. is exponentially growing its production of clean and reliable energy like natural gas, we are also significantly reducing emissions and providing clean energy to our allies overseas,” Sitton said.

“The U.S. decreased emissions by 15 percent between 2005 and 2016 not because of the Paris Accord or Clean Power Plan, but because of technological advancements from the industry, like hydraulic fracturing. This technique has allowed producers to unlock shale plays and develop abundant natural gas reserves, which are now being shipped from our ports to more than 20 countries around the world. Hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. has created thousands of jobs, enhanced our economic and national security, and reduced emissions from electric generation facilities.”

Ryan Sitton was elected to the Railroad Commission in 2014 and is the first engineer to serve on the Commission in 50 years. Sitton is one of the world’s leading energy experts and founded PinnacleART, an engineering and technology company focused on reliability and integrity programs for the oil, gas, and petrochemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and wastewater industries. As Railroad Commissioner, Sitton uses his technical expertise and business experience to make decisions for the state that are based on sound science and employs a fiscally conservative approach to prioritize the agency’s efforts.