Texas’ three elected railroad commissioners will consider ExxonMobil’s application for its Rose Carbon Capture and Storage Project on Tuesday.
Critics say the project would be subsidized by taxpayers and will increase energy bills. ExxonMobil stated the project “is grounded in facts, validated by science, and engineered for safety.”
Molly Vogt, of American Energy Works and Texas Energy Works, wrote that this is among the first such permits the commission will consider since taking responsibility for oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December 2025.
“If it’s approved, ExxonMobil will inject up to 53 million tons of carbon dioxide underground, permanently, beneath the ground our communities sit on,” she wrote. “Not to produce energy. Not to create Texas jobs. Just to warehouse CO2 so the company can collect a federal subsidy.”
Vogt explained how the subsidy works.
“Under Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, taxpayers are footing the bill for carbon capture through a tax credit worth up to $180, for every ton of CO2 captured. The Treasury Department estimates this credit alone will cost taxpayers $30.3 billion between 2022 and 2032,” she wrote. “And if projects like Rose become the norm across Texas, we won’t just pay for it once through our taxes. We’ll pay again through higher energy bills, as these costs get passed on to every consumer in the state.”
Jason Isaac, of American Energy Works and a former state representative, wrote that it is “disappointing” to see Texas energy policy failing to follow President Donald Trump’s agenda. He further criticized the project as a “lifeline to the Biden-era policies.”
“While Washington is working to unleash American energy and dismantle the Green New Scam, Texas approved $14 billion in new transmission projects to move wind and solar around the state, creating yet another incentive to build unreliable generation while ratepayers are left paying the bill,” Isaac explained.
He was referring to the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ August 29 approval of the first of three proposed 765-kilovolt transmission lines. Critics say the project will benefit unreliable wind and solar generation, arguing that Texas needs more reliable power sources, such as natural gas.
“Now, one of the same major energy companies that supported that buildout wants taxpayers to subsidize burying CO2 underground,” Isaac wrote.
“We’ve done the work, met all requirements, and proven the integrity of our approach,” an ExxonMobil spokesperson said in a statement. “The Rose CCS [carbon capture and storage] permit is grounded in facts, validated by science, and engineered for safety – all of which led to a recommendation that our application be approved. Throughout, our commitment to being the most responsible CCS business in the world remains unwavering,” the statement read.
The statement added, “A thorough, yet timely permitting process has long been a hallmark of business in Texas. Upholding that standard is essential to maintaining the state’s reputation as a place where investment and responsible development can move forward with certainty. We look forward to the Railroad Commissioners voting to approve the permit this month.”
The Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and natural gas, pipelines, and coal and uranium surface mining operations. It is overseen by three elected commissioners. One of these seats, currently held by Jim Wright (R), is on the ballot for the November 2026 election.
Wright lost the March 2026 Republican primary to Bo French. French will face Democrat Jon Rosenthal and Libertarian Arthur DiBianca in the November General Election.
Rosenthal, currently a state representative, expressed support for “advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology” and for the commission overseeing it.
“There is demand driven both by Customers and by the Industry. Texas is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in CCS and we should take advantage of our resources, technology, and workforce to encourage these investments,” he stated. “I hope the Railroad Commissioners have the vision to support this effort. Texas needs to lead on this, as we already know that our neighbors like Louisiana and Oklahoma are already actively inviting these investments.”
French, DiBianca, and the commission did not return a request for comment before publication.
