Gov. Greg Abbott highlighted Texas’ energy leadership and economy during a fireside chat at the University Lands Energy Forum in Odessa, according to an Oct. 13 news release from the governor’s office.
“Texas is more than a production hub, we are a stabilizing force for the nation,” Abbott said in the release. “Our growing, skilled workforce and innovative training programs make the Lone Star State the blueprint for economic success. The men and women of the Texas oil and gas industry are vital to our thriving economy as we build a stronger, more prosperous future for generations to come.”
The governor was joined on stage by Stuart Stedman, chair of the University Lands Advisory Board and a University of Texas System regent, and Rad Weaver, vice chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, the release said.
During the conversation, Abbott discussed Texas’ job creation and business expansion, its leadership in global energy and its growing workforce, according to the governor’s office. He also addressed the state’s future in education, transportation and border security, the release said.
The governor’s office also offered several figures in the release. It said Texas has become the eighth-largest economy in the world under Abbott’s leadership and is home to 57 Fortune 500 headquarters. The office said the state has cemented its position as America’s energy leader, with the Texas oil and gas industry supporting 1.4 million jobs.
The release said additional photos from the event will be provided when they are available.