Will Metcalf, representative for Texas House District 16, expressed concerns in a letter to the Railroad Commission regarding the proposal to locate four Blackfin compressor stations near Conroe businesses and neighborhoods. He emphasized that public input should be prioritized in the decision-making process.
“While I am a strong supporter of Texas’ oil and gas industry and a firm believer in private property rights, being a good neighbor matters,” said Metcalf, Texas State Representative of 16th district (R), according to Instagram. “Placing four compressor stations next to long-standing businesses, residential neighborhoods, and I-45 in such a densely populated location needs to be considered with the upmost due diligence. Allowing citizens to be informed, voice concerns, discuss possible solutions and receive answers directly from the company. Projects of this scale should be sited in rural areas to reduce potential risk and impact. Public input must be a priority, not an afterthought.”
The Blackfin Pipeline is a proposed 193-mile intrastate natural gas pipeline designed to transport up to 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from Colorado County to Jasper County, crossing several counties, including Montgomery County. The project has sparked debate due to its inclusion of four compressor stations, with one proposed for a densely populated area near I-45 in Conroe. Montgomery County commissioners granted right-of-way approval for the project in June 2024, moving it forward despite local concerns. According to Community Impact, construction is expected to begin in late 2024 and finish by late 2025.
According to Barron Adler, the Blackfin Pipeline’s four compressor stations will maintain pressure and flow efficiency. The project aims to support growing demand in Texas’s energy sector by enhancing intrastate natural gas transportation infrastructure.
In June 2023, Blackfin Pipeline hosted a stakeholder meeting at the Magnolia Event Center specifically for landowners near the proposed route. The meeting was not open to the broader public, which has led community leaders like Metcalf to call for more inclusive engagement. The pipeline’s permitting and oversight fall under the Railroad Commission of Texas, which has authority over compressor station approvals. As reported by Community Impact, project representatives addressed questions on route safety and environmental impacts; however, many residents felt excluded from the decision-making process due to the lack of a public forum.
Metcalf has served as the Texas State Representative for District 16 since 2014 and is a sixth-generation resident of Montgomery County. Throughout his legislative career, he has been appointed to multiple influential committees, including serving as Chair of the House Administration Committee and as a member of the State Affairs Committee during the 2023–2025 session.