NEWS & INFORMATION
Boomtown, Episode 10: The Mitchell Paradox
No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas.
West Texas Talk: Marilu Hastings and Dr. Michael Young on Respect Big Bend
Marilu Hastings is the vice president of sustainability programs for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation — the primary funder of the Respect Big Bend initiative. She discusses the impetus for helping start the initiative.
Dr. Michael Young is a scientist with the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin. He’s been working with a team to study energy projections in Far West Texas.
Some Landowners Diversify as Texas Working Land Declines
Over a twenty year period, Texas lost 2.2 million acres of working lands, with 1.2 million of those being converted to non-agricultural use in the last five years alone, according to a new study of Texas land trends from 1997 to 2017 by Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute.
Why a Drop in Oil Patch Jobs is Good, and Bad, for the Permian Basin
An end to a hiring spree could mean less strain on infrastructure and lower home prices, but also less money coming into the region.
West Texas Talk: Bill Wren, The Godfather of Dark Skies
Diana Nguyen speaks to Bill Wren of McDonald Observatory, whose job is to keep the skies of Far West Texas dark. They discuss Wren’s collaboration with oil and gas companies and municipalities across the region, and what residents can do to help.
Kermit's Fortune is Made of Sand
Once a playground for the area's residents, the town's sand dunes are in demand by oil companies that use the sand for hydrolic fracturing.
Wind Farms Invade Remote Devils River
Turbines bring clean energy, but they’ve fundamentally changed people’s view of this pristine corner of West Texas.
Booms and Busts Have Defined Midland’s History, but Is It Time to Stop Using Those Terms?
The Permian Basin has never been busier. More oil is being pumped than ever before, thanks to hydraulic fracking, and energy companies are making plans to stick around long-term. By most accounts, the region is booming. But, some analysts and community leaders believe the oil industry is entering into a more stable phase where the days of crazy booms and terrible busts may be a thing of the past.
As Oil Field Workers Flood Balmorhea with RVs, the Small Community’s Economy is Revitalized
Fears that closure of the famous Balmorhea State Park pool would hurt the local economy have been calmed by the influx of new oil workers.
Coalition to Conserve Big Bend with Responsible Energy
The Big Bend region is considered one of the most biodiverse in the Western Hemisphere, while also sitting in one of the most energy-intensive areas of the world — and experts say if that energy is not developed responsibly, the sustainability of the region and its resources could be at risk.
Still in its infancy, the Respect Big Bend Coalition — a communal collaboration — was formed to ensure Big Bend's resources are conserved while the benefits of energy development remain maximal.