Oil jobs disappear every time prices crash—workers are laid off with no warning. 853,924 Permian Basin jobs depend on volatile oil markets. Many contract workers do not have full benefits. Young people leave West Texas not just because there’s nothing to do, but because there’s no stable future. China is building clean energy factories while we watch, perpetually stuck in the past.
The Solution
We will turn the Permian Basin’s economy from one of extraction with transient workers to one of manufacturing with permanent homes. Oil workers already have the skills—welding, electrical work, equipment operation. We just need to build the factories where they can use those skills to build the future instead of extracting the past. This comes also with full rights to unionize and collectively bargain for fair treatment, and permanent community settlements with an economy and job market not dependent on the volatility of oil.
How This Could Happen YEAR 1: Emergency Investment and Construction Begins
The revived Reconstruction Finance Corporation commits $2 billion for solar and wind manufacturing in District 11.
Manufacturing site preparation begins in Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo.
2,000 construction jobs start immediately—you can watch the factories being built.
Worker retraining programs launch for oil field workers, perfecting their skills for the economy to come.
YEAR 2: Major Construction and Equipment Installation
Ground broken on MASSIVE solar panel factory in Midland.
Wind turbine plant construction begins in Odessa.
Battery storage facility construction starts in San Angelo.
10,000 construction jobs at peak building phase.
YEAR 3: Production Begins and Results Show
First solar panels roll off the production line, transforming the region’s energy grid.
5,000 manufacturing jobs at $65,000+ per year.
Oil workers get FIRST PRIORITY for these jobs.
Economic transformation becomes VISIBLE—factories operational.
YEAR 4: Supply Chain Expansion
Supply chain jobs created—3,000 positions in trucking, logistics, parts.
Local companies get contracts to support factories.
Service sector expands to support new workforce (i. e. Suddenly Midland and Odessa are FUN places to live!
Housing construction booms as workers move to stable jobs—rent no longer rises and falls due to boom-bust cycles.
YEAR 5: Manufacturing Powerhouse Complete
15,000 new clean energy jobs in District 11.
Stable employment that doesn’t depend on oil prices within a growing community.
West Texas becomes America’s clean energy capital, leading the fight against Climate Change
Young people stay because there’s a future here. We gave them HOPE!!
What about Big Oil?
The oil business will NOT disappear. That is not my intention. Big Oil will adjust by increasing their already existing investments in clean energy technologies. As the markets shift and our values change, Big Oil will invest in things like carbon capture, hydrogen, and petrochemicals, helping us to improve the environment. They may not like it at first, but if WE COLLECTIVELY back these policies, they will have NO CHOICE. Oil production may dip, but more importantly, unemployment will remain LOW due to the growth of our new clean energy economy.
The Crisis
Oil jobs disappear every time prices crash—workers are laid off with no warning. 853,924 Permian Basin jobs depend on volatile oil markets. Many contract workers do not have full benefits. Young people leave West Texas not just because there’s nothing to do, but because there’s no stable future. China is building clean energy factories while we watch, perpetually stuck in the past.
The Solution
We will turn the Permian Basin’s economy from one of extraction with transient workers to one of manufacturing with permanent homes. Oil workers already have the skills—welding, electrical work, equipment operation. We just need to build the factories where they can use those skills to build the future instead of extracting the past. This comes also with full rights to unionize and collectively bargain for fair treatment, and permanent community settlements with an economy and job market not dependent on the volatility of oil.
How This Could Happen
YEAR 1: Emergency Investment and Construction Begins
The revived Reconstruction Finance Corporation commits $2 billion for solar and wind manufacturing in District 11.
Manufacturing site preparation begins in Midland, Odessa, and San Angelo.
2,000 construction jobs start immediately—you can watch the factories being built.
Worker retraining programs launch for oil field workers, perfecting their skills for the economy to come.
YEAR 2: Major Construction and Equipment Installation
Ground broken on MASSIVE solar panel factory in Midland.
Wind turbine plant construction begins in Odessa.
Battery storage facility construction starts in San Angelo.
10,000 construction jobs at peak building phase.
YEAR 3: Production Begins and Results Show
First solar panels roll off the production line, transforming the region’s energy grid.
5,000 manufacturing jobs at $65,000+ per year.
Oil workers get FIRST PRIORITY for these jobs.
Economic transformation becomes VISIBLE—factories operational.
YEAR 4: Supply Chain Expansion
Supply chain jobs created—3,000 positions in trucking, logistics, parts.
Local companies get contracts to support factories.
Service sector expands to support new workforce (i. e. Suddenly Midland and Odessa are FUN places to live!
Housing construction booms as workers move to stable jobs—rent no longer rises and falls due to boom-bust cycles.
YEAR 5: Manufacturing Powerhouse Complete
15,000 new clean energy jobs in District 11.
Stable employment that doesn’t depend on oil prices within a growing community.
West Texas becomes America’s clean energy capital, leading the fight against Climate Change
Young people stay because there’s a future here. We gave them HOPE!!
What about Big Oil?
The oil business will NOT disappear. That is not my intention. Big Oil will adjust by increasing their already existing investments in clean energy technologies. As the markets shift and our values change, Big Oil will invest in things like carbon capture, hydrogen, and petrochemicals, helping us to improve the environment. They may not like it at first, but if WE COLLECTIVELY back these policies, they will have NO CHOICE. Oil production may dip, but more importantly, unemployment will remain LOW due to the growth of our new clean energy economy.