KUT
"Perry Keeps Focus on Energy"
Oct. 14, 2011

In his presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Perry has made the energy industry a central topic of conversation. Perry says that this industry is closely tied with jobs in Texas and the U.S.

Associate Professor David Spence, at the McCombs Energy Management and Innovation Center, spoke to Austin's KUT News about the economic impact of the oil and gas industry--and its impact on Perry's campaign. 

"As the price of oil goes up, that increases employment in the industry, and as you know, a lot of oil and gas employment for the world is centered in Texas," Spence told KUT News.

Spence says it's an open question how much credit Perry can claim for the booming oil and gas industry. But the governor's embrace of fossil fuels, his public battles with the Environmental Protection Agency and his vocal skepticism of climate change have made him a bogeyman to many environmental groups. The thing is Perry's history in Texas may be a little more complicated than his image implies.

"Yeah I suppose it depends on whether you focus on what he says or what he does." said Spence. "The rhetoric in the Presidential campaign has been very strong against EPA, against environmentalists and against environmental regulation. But there are some sort of environmentally responsible actions that you can point to, at least a few of them."