The historic Sandman Signature hotel in Fort Worth, TX faced a violent explosion earlier today. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the destruction was caused by natural gas. 11 people were injured by the blast, with two people being in critical condition.
The building was shattered across the streets of downtown Fort Worth and debris littered the ground as local firefighters tried to clear the mess from the area. The explosive catalyst left a lingering odor in the air that contributed to the troubling scene.
“There is a smell of gas in the area and there are windows and things that were blown outside of the structure,” stated Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson Craig Trojacek.
Natural gas can be very dangerous and Texas has a lot of it. Furthermore, many lawmakers and Texans have pushed for more oil production from the state. In December, 3 Texas organizations participated in a workshop focused on HB 5066. The workshop was held in Midland, Texas and was organized by the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
“Oil and natural gas are essential to meeting the demands of our everyday lives, and the production of these irreplaceable resources depends on additional electrical transmission to make available reliable power sources,” said TXOGA President Todd Staples.
Among the workshop attendees were several people who had an investment in the companies and industry.
“We appreciate the PUC for their hard work putting together today’s workshop. Industry remains committed to working collaboratively with the PUC, ERCOT, and other stakeholders to implement HB 5066 to ensure that the Lone Star State remains the energy leader.”
HB 5066 focuses on electricity service in areas of Texas with a need for transmission projects. Texas infrastructure has fallen under considerable scrutiny over the past few years, with its power grid often in trouble of failing.
