No Fracking Ban, Though Biden Faces Backlash On Energy Initiatives themississippilink.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from themississippilink.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday said that he will not ban hydraulic fracturing in the country, but his environmental agenda still drew scrutiny from the oil and gas sector.
Biden signed a slew of executive orders that prioritized his proposed $2 trillion clean energy initiatives, orders that included a pause on oil and gas leases on federal land.
Briefing reporters during a signing ceremony, however, the president said he was “not going to ban fracking.” Instead, he directed the Interior Department to pause leasing on public lands to “the extent possible” and promised a “rigorous” review of the permitting processes.
Workforce in Texas Upstream Energy Sector Contracts in November After Two Months of Growth
The number of total jobs in Texas’ upstream sector dipped in November after showing positive gains in October and November, driven principally by layoffs in the services sector.
The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) reported new government data showing that the sector experienced a decline of 2,300 jobs in November compared to the previous month.
This is still moderate compared to the overall net decline this year of over 47,000 upstream jobs in Texas compared to full year 2019 statistics.
According to the Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, after six consecutive months of employment decline in the Texas upstream sector this year, 1,500 jobs were added in September compared to the previous month, followed by a revised gain of 2,400 positions in October.
Local unemployment rises again
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Despite signs of relief the month before, local unemployment drifted upward again in November among rising COVID-19 cases and the threat of an opening rollback.
The unemployment rate in the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area rose more than 2 points between October and November, landing the region at almost 12% and in the spot for third highest unemployment in the state, again.
“As Texas businesses and job seekers adapt to changes in our economy, we can expect continued fluctuations, but TWC will continue to respond to trending needs and offer resources to workers and businesses that bolster the state’s economy,” Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel said in a Friday report.
What Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency might mean for Texas businesses
The coronavirus pandemic will be the first and last item on the president-elect’s agenda. But Texas businesses are preparing for a new White House on multiple fronts.
The concern? The possibility of another government-led shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“I don’t know if we could handle another one,” she said, taking measure of the fragile economy that has taken hold even as encouraging advancements are being made on the COVID-19 vaccine front. “Small-business owners we’re very, very nervous.”
Makaye is confident that Biden, a Democrat, will lead the country out of the pandemic and into prosperity. She conceded that others “don’t have a lot of hope,” underscoring the challenges the new White House will face both in terms of policy and perception.