Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and critical infrastructure is needed to meet the demands of our booming population. Every Texan relies on transmission lines, roadways, flood control, and pipelines to transport water, oil, natural gas and other fuels. The expansion of this infrastructure is essential to our state’s continued growth and success.

The Coalition for Critical Infrastructure (CCI) was formed to help maintain Texas’ positive business climate and quality of life by addressing our growing need for important infrastructure projects.

The Texas Constitution permits the use of eminent domain to acquire property for infrastructure that benefits the citizenry, but it is intended to be used only as a last resort. CCI strongly believes in a strong and durable eminent domain framework that provides transparency to property owners, promotes the fair and efficient resolution of disputes, and strengthens long-term relationships between property owners and infrastructure developers.

• Texas has the ninth-largest economy in the world, sustained in large part by an energy industry that relies on robust infrastructure to deliver products, create well-paying jobs, and keep utilities affordable and reliable for all Texans.
• Well-developed pipeline infrastructure benefits both our economy and the environment, keeping energy prices low and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Texas needs additional pipeline capacity to meet the current demand for oil and gas products; the alternative is more environmentally harmful (flaring gas) and less safe (transporting product by truck or rail).
• The eminent domain reform proposed by landowner groups encourages litigation, which puts money in the pockets of lawyers at the expense of landowners, infrastructure developers, and ultimately, taxpayers and consumers.