Texas governor names Smitherman to oil, gas agency

HOUSTON, July 8 (Reuters) - Texas Governor Rick Perry on Friday appointed Barry Smitherman, the state's top utility regulator, to a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the agency which oversees activity in the nation's largest oil and natural gas producing state.

Smitherman had served on the Public Utility Commission of Texas since 2004 and as chairman since 2007, overseeing the state's competitive wholesale electric market and a $6.5 billion plan to expand the state's power transmission grid to accommodate a doubling of renewable energy from wind farms. Texas already leads the nation in installed wind power capacity.

"Barry's strong leadership at the Texas Public Utility Commission helped make Texas energy and telecommunications markets stronger and more affordable," said Perry in a statement.

In his new role on the three-member commission, Perry said Smitherman "will continue to push back against the Obama Administration's misguided energy policies which threaten Texas jobs and our nation's energy security."

On Thursday, Perry, Smitherman and Texas' top pollution regulator criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for placing Texas under a rule to pare air emissions from coal-fired power plants without adequate notice. [ID:nN1E7661OO]

Earlier this year, the Public Utility Commission and the Railroad Commission worked together to manage the Feb. 2 rolling blackout that occurred during unusually frigid weather. The event raised concern about the need for coordination between the two agencies since Texas relies heavily on natural gas for power generation.

The Railroad Commission recently launched a rule-making related to disclosure of certain chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process used in drilling gas and oil wells in Texas.

Smitherman will replace Michael Williams, who resigned from the Railroad Commission in April to run for U.S. Congress.

His term will expire at the next general election next year.

(Reporting by Eileen O'Grady; Editing by David Gregorio)