Gov. Greg Abbott visited Odessa on Tuesday (March 29) to hold a roundtable on Texas' oil and gas sector, a press release issued by the governor's office said.
Abbott, a Republican, and stakeholders from Odessa-based Champion X touched on matters such as strong opposition toward the industry and ways the state can continue to help companies generate job opportunities to keep the industry thriving.
The governor lauded Champion X for its part in helping Texas earn the distinction of energy capital in the world, as well as credited the people who work in the sector.
"Thanks to companies like Champion X, Texas remains the energy capital of the world—and we're going to keep it that way," he said, according to the release. "The people of the energy industry are the lifeblood of our economy, and Texas would not be the economic juggernaut we are today without their hard work, commitment to innovation and dedication to serving their customers. We will always support the oil and gas industry, and I look forward to my continued partnership with the leaders of the energy sector as we keep Texas the best state in the nation."
Abbott said that the Lone Star State has been the world's longtime source for oil and gas.
"If you go back in time, Texans have been supplying the world with the energy needed to fuel their cars, power their homes and produce the products that we all need," the governor said, according to Midland CBS affiliate KWES.
Texas was successful at eliminating the bureaucracy and barriers that hindered production, Abbott said.
"The reason why Texas has been repeatedly ranked No. 1 for economic development is because we operate at the speed of business," he said, KWES reported. "We accelerate the permitting process, and we reduce regulations so that businesses can operate more quickly including those in the oil and gas sector."
According to the station, Abbott touted the importance of fossil fuels.
"Fossil fuels are essential for the operation of the entire globe in conjunction with alternatives such as renewables," the governor said, according to the station. "What we need to do here in Texas is to increase the amount of oil and gas we are producing to help our fellow Americans, as well as to help our friends across the entire world."