CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ ANNOUNCES OVER $3.5 MILLION IN ENERGY REVENUES FOR THE 34TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced that four South Texas counties will receive $3,538,738.37 in revenue from offshore oil and gas production. The funding comes from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), which allows communities in oil and gas producing states like Texas to receive revenue generated from offshore energy leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf to support coastal conservation, restoration, hurricane protections programs, infrastructure projects and more.
"This announcement is the largest allocation of funds since the program began disbursements in 2009 and reflects that American oil and gas companies are producing more to are meet market demands," stated Congressman Gonzalez. "Thanks to historic production, South Texas communities can utilize funds to further support conservation efforts, invest in hurricane preparedness, and implement marine and coastal resilience management plans."
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006 created a revenue-sharing model for oil- and gas-producing Gulf states to receive a portion of the revenue generated from offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. The Act also directs a percentage of revenue to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
The State of Texas as a whole will receive $95,463,547.34 in GOMESA disbursements, including $76,370,837.88 for the state alone and $3,538,738.37 for counties within the 34th Congressional District of Texas.
The counties and their allocations are as follows:
· Cameron County: $1,087,030.59
· Kenedy County: $1,067,607.77
· Kleberg County: $767,548.26
· Willacy County: $616,551.75
More information on the revenue allocations can be found here.
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