By Ed Longanecker

The day-to-day life we Texans enjoy and benefit from would not be possible without our state’s vast energy resources and the infrastructure that moves it. Largely unnoticed, more than 472,000 miles of natural gas and liquids pipelines crisscross Texas, serving as a critical link between where energy is produced and where it is consumed.  

This infrastructure is highly-regulated and essential to meeting the demands of modern life. As this demand continues to grow, particularly in Texas where the rise in AI and data centers is expected to cause a rapid rise in electricity needs, we must invest in additional energy infrastructure.

With natural gas pipelines comes compressor stations, essential facilities along a pipeline’s route that keep natural gas moving safely and efficiently through the line. These facilities are critical to restoring pressure that may have dropped over long distances to a safe level and ensure a steady flow of gas to homes, businesses and power plants.

Most importantly, neither natural gas pipelines, nor the compressor stations that accompany them, are built overnight. Instead, each project undertakes a lengthy and robust permitting process that includes review and input by local, state and federal agencies, often taking years to complete, but putting safety as the top priority every step of the way.

Despite undertaking the lengthy regulatory approval process, a compressor station in Conroe, Texas, intended to service the 193-mile Blackfin Pipeline, is currently under fire. The proposed facility, which has received five permits from the City of Conroe and approval of its design plan by the Railroad Commission of Texas, is a key piece to the fully permitted pipeline that will help expand our transportation networks moving gas from West Texas to the Gulf Coast.  

In spite of expressing support for the oil and gas industry, one local business was the catalyst to opposition of this compressor station project which has grown to include the Conroe City Council – who, as stated, have already approved five permits for the project, but voted last month to unanimously support the lawsuit opposing it. This is unfortunately a classic tale of Not-In-My-Backyard (or NIMBY-ism) efforts that disregards the approvals and safety measure in place as well as the necessity of infrastructure projects like this one.

In a court hearing about the project, the expert witness called upon by the opposition agreed that America’s trust in the safety of our pipelines has been well-deserved and for a century, energy products have been reliably transported by pipeline. Yet if the Blackfin compressor station project is halted by the 457^th District Court of Montgomery County, a concerning and dangerous precedent will be set for energy infrastructure projects across the state and country.

Pipelines are a critical component of both Texas and the United States’ energy framework. As our energy demand continue to grow, it is essential to recognize the importance of pipelines in ensuring a reliable, efficient, and secure energy supply. By supporting the modernization and development of our energy infrastructure, Texas can continue leading the way, promoting energy independence and fostering a more resilient future.

Ed Longanecker is president of Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association.