What does oil and gas exploration have to do with the Texas Emerging Technology Fund? Well, Governor Perry just appointed Midland's own Grant Billingsley to the group and Billingsley's employed by Wagner & Brown Ltd., an independent oil and gas exploration and production company.
The Texas Emerging Technology Fund is allegedly in place to bring new technology companies to Texas. Such as, semi-conductor manufacturing, bio-technology, nano-technology, environmental sciences and advanced energy.
Here are the other appointees:
Texas Tech Engineering Dean Pamela Eibeck of Lubbock, Dr. Lynda de la Vina of San Antonio, David Nance, Sada Cumber and Pike Powers of Austin, Alan Abbott of El Paso, Dr. Thomas Caskey of Houston, Walter Ulrich of Pearland, Phillip Drayer and Dr. Hans Stork of Dallas, Clyde Higgs of Fort Worth, Bernie Paulson of Corpus Christi, Bill Sproull of Richardson, Cesar Maldonado of Harlingen and Bill Morrow of San Marcos.
Any of y'all know these folks? Are there any business development in emerging technology experts on the list? OR, are these all just political payback appointments? Hmmm. We'd do a little looking but it's late and the bars need us.
Caskey - pretty bad ass CV and pro stem cell research, invests in stem cell companies. Probably not a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Definitely didn't sign the statement protesting the Bush Administration's Misuse of Science.
I know it might be hard to believe for the green folks, but the oil and gas industry spends $100's of millions on emerging technologies to help discover and produce hydrocarbons. And how did Pike Powers (Democrat) make the cut. Perry's getting soft.
Yes, but they can raise their own funds. Wait, no, maybe they can't. Exxon only spent about 670 million on research last year and Schlumberger is down to less than 500 million. Bambi got out when the getting was good.
200 million would have fully restored CHIP.
Yes, CHIP should be restored. I'm fairly certain that Schlumberger won't be tapping the Em. Tech Fund. My point was that Grant Billingsley may have a clue on new technologies coming forward.
If Bambi got out (hopefully cashed out) when it was good, $9 mcf and $65 oil isn't too bad either.
True re Schlumberger not tapping the fund. After all, they're French, not Texan. Bless them for giving us Jean and Dominique DeMenil. I got out in the days of billion dollar research budgets and cashed out nicely.
Re Grant Billingsley, don't you think he's the PR guy? On the other hand, there are at least 3 appointees who could probably explain that hydrocarbon thingie.
I'm just scratching my head though wondering why it would be better to set aside $200 million for the Em Tech fund than to fully restore CHIP. Surely the persons on this board are capable of raising $200 million from private sponsors.
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are you trying to say these people are campaign flunkies, who just so happen to be dedicated to bringing new technologies and job opportunities to the Great Citizens of Texas? you goddamn pink(d)o(me) commies!