Tuesday’s panel discussion in Odessa on the impact of the oil and gas industry in Texas focused on quality of life issues. Panelists said the success of the industry in west Texas has had consequences, including wear-and-tear on regional roads, lack of affordable housing, and strains on area schools and healthcare systems. Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, said, “What we have to do is address the quality of life issues – healthcare, education and transportation – so many more people will come and call the Permian Basin home.” The program was conducted by the Texas Tribune.
You’re NOT gonna have any reasonable quality of life in the Permian and Delaware Basins when you have so many non oilfield LEACHES gouging oilfield workers for everything they can get on cost of housing,
groceries, clothing, communication, entertainment, etc. Many of the ordinances and regulations passed by
counties and municipalities are designed to make life of any sort HARDER for the oilfield worker. The GREED is palpable. He/she MUST be rich, they work in the oil and gas industry!!
A person can’t be an entrepreneur and build temporary living quarters for oil and gas industry workers
out of sea cargo containers because the powers that be in the towns and counties pass ordinances and
regulations against them.
And the counties are not even making any effort to resurface county roads damaged by overweight
oilfield traffic.
You people aren’t serious about making west Texas attractive for workers to come in here, work a job, bring their families and put down roots so they will STAY.
Born and bred in Winkler and Reeves counties….retired from the oil and gas industry after 50 years of
working for a living in the oil patch.
ol’ Lawrence in Reeves county.