Contributed by Silvio Marcacci

Big news out of the Capitol today, as Henry Waxman has unseated John Dingell as Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This switch has major ramifications for both the energy and environmental sectors, as Waxman is much more closely aligned with environmental groups than Dingell. Waxman also differs from Dingell in his support for climate change legislation and such legislation may now have a greater chance of passage in the House. In addition, Waxman is renown for calling investigatory hearings on many issues, and his elevation to chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee will likely mean closer scrutiny and exposure for companies across the energy sector. This also may signal more bad news for Detroit, as Dingell routinely opposed whole-scale RPS and pollution-limit legislation directed toward the auto industry.

Contributed by Ray Fohr

"The History of Mexico's Oil Industry," a photographic exhibit curated by Marco Bracamontes, president of the Houston-Tampico Sister City Association, was shown in Mexico City this past October at the Club de Industriales, the top business club in Mexico’s capital. Bracamontes’ historic photo collection features images from the early stages in the development of one of Mexico’s top economic drivers (1900 -1938). 

The show was on display days before Mexico’s Congress approved a major energy reform which allows foreign firms’ participation in that sector.

The exhibit has also been shown in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Tampico, Mexico, and consists of images from U.S. and British archives and collections. I highly recommend catching this unique photographic exhibit if you have the opportunity.

For more information or to contact the organization please visit  Houston-Tampico Sister City Association.