Latest Contributions

• CEO of Texas power grid operator terminated in aftermath of winter storm

  by Erin Douglas and Mitchell Ferman March 3, 2021

  Bill Magness is the latest official to depart following the winter storm catastrophe. Full Story 

• Public Utility Commission chair resigns after Texas officials criticize management of power outages

  by Erin Douglas and Patrick Svitek Updated: March 1, 2021

  On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for PUC Chair DeAnn Walker and Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Bill Magness to resign. Full Story 

• How Texas’ power grid works

  by Darla Cameron, Emily Albracht, Erin Douglas and Mitchell Ferman Feb. 25, 2021

  Who are the major players and how do they manage the power grid in Texas? Full Story 

• Resigning ERCOT board members acknowledge "pain and suffering" from extreme power grid strain that caused outages for millions of Texans

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 24, 2021

  In the power grid operator’s first board meeting since Texas’ power outages, a sixth ERCOT board member confirmed his resignation, and new details show that a shortage of natural gas fuel was a bigger problem last week than in 2011. Full Story 

• Texas plants released nearly as much pollution during winter storm as during Hurricane Laura

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 24, 2021

  Oil refineries, chemical plants and other industrial operators emitted 3.5 million pounds of excess pollution during the winter storm and power crisis in Texas, according to an analysis of company notices provided to state regulators. Full Story 

• ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas are resigning in the aftermath of the power outage, winter storm

  by Erin Douglas and Mitchell Ferman Updated: Feb. 23, 2021

  Five board members, including the chair, who do not live in Texas will resign. A candidate for another position on the board has withdrawn his application. The vacancies will not immediately be filled. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott wants power companies to “winterize.” Texas’ track record won’t make that easy.

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 20, 2021

  Retroactively equipping power plants to withstand cold temperatures is likely to be very difficult and costly, energy experts say. Building energy infrastructure to perform in winter conditions is easier — and cheaper. Full Story 

• Texas was "seconds and minutes" away from catastrophic monthslong blackouts, officials say

  by Erin Douglas Updated: Feb. 18, 2021

  Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said that grid operators implemented blackouts to avoid a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months. Full Story 

• Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state's power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say

  by Erin Douglas, Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough Updated: Feb. 19, 2021

  Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said. Full Story 

• No, frozen wind turbines aren’t the main culprit for Texas’ power outages

  by Erin Douglas and Ross Ramsey Updated: Feb. 17, 2021

  Lost wind power was expected to be a fraction of winter generation. All sources — from natural gas, to nuclear, to coal, to solar — have struggled to generate power during the storm that has left millions of Texans in the dark. Full Story 

• Texas largely relies on natural gas for power. It wasn’t ready for the extreme cold.

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 16, 2021

  Texas largely relies on natural gas — especially during times of high demand — to power the state. Experts say natural gas infrastructure, from pumping it out of the ground to the plants in city centers, was unprepared for the plunging temperatures brought by the winter storm. Full Story 

• “Crisis upon crisis”: Industrial pollutants leave San Angelo residents without water as winter storm bears down

  by Erin Douglas Updated: Feb. 14, 2021

  In some areas of the West Texas city, the state found concentrations of benzene, a known carcinogen, to be 35 times the safe limit. For other chemicals identified in the water, no concentration is considered safe. Full Story 

• Texas House Democrats launch climate, environment caucus with one goal: Talk about climate change in the Legislature

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 10, 2021

  The climate, environment and energy caucus aims to start a conversation in the Legislature on how Texas can prepare for climate change and take advantage of the transition to cleaner energy sources. Full Story 

• West Texas is on track to get even more nuclear waste — thanks to the federal government

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 10, 2021

  A hazardous waste disposal company in Andrews County wants to handle more dangerous levels of nuclear waste. Federal agencies are pondering new rules that could allow more of it to come to Texas. Full Story 

• Oil and gas cleanups are on Biden’s agenda. Will Texas embrace it?

  by Erin Douglas Feb. 5, 2021

  Some areas of Texas could benefit from Biden’s federal directive to accelerate cleanups of legacy oil and gas, mining and hazardous waste contamination. Full Story 

• Texas prepares to test for lead in schools’ drinking water for the first time

  by Erin Douglas Jan. 28, 2021

  An updated EPA rule requires drinking water in elementary schools be tested for lead and copper — a mandate that emerged from the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. Full Story 

• Toxic substance or water supply? Lawmakers to weigh whether wastewater from oil fields could replenish the state's aquifers

  by Erin Douglas Jan. 21, 2021

  A recent EPA decision will allow Texas to regulate water discharges from oil drilling operations. Some lawmakers see a future water supply for the state in the decision, while environmental groups — and some scientists — warn it could be risky. Full Story 

• The NRA says it’s moving to Texas. Bankruptcy experts say it may be more of a legal move than a physical one.

  by Erin Douglas Jan. 15, 2021

  The National Rifle Association filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may reincorporate in Texas. Experts say it’s fleeing a fraud case in New York. Full Story 

• Clogged phone lines and ethical dilemmas: Texas health providers scramble to roll out vaccine with little state guidance

  by Erin Douglas Jan. 8, 2021

  More than 8 million Texans qualify to receive COVID-19 vaccines, but fewer than 2 million doses have shipped. Providers are facing clogged phone lines, crashing websites and tough decisions about who will get the first shots. Full Story 

• Texas legislators eye tougher rules on chemical tanks to prevent explosions, spills during storms

  by Erin Douglas Jan. 5, 2021

  A string of explosions involving little-regulated petroleum and chemical storage tanks have lawmakers and regulators talking about new rules as the Legislature prepares to convene this month. Full Story