Choke Canyon has almost doubled its supply of water this week, although the reservoir is still at 15% capacity.
Alejandra Martinez
Alejandra Martinez is a Fort Worth-based environmental reporter. She’s covered the impacts of petrochemical facilities on Black and brown communities, including investigating a chemical fire at an industrial complex and how the state's air monitoring system has failed Latino communities. Her work on climate change includes exploring the health effects of extreme heat and how extended droughts affect water resources. Before joining the Tribune in 2022, Alejandra was an accountability reporter at KERA, where she began as a Report for America Corps Member and then covered Dallas City Hall. She also has worked as an associate producer at WLRN in South Florida. A Houston native, Alejandra studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and speaks fluent Spanish.
Posted in
Environment
As flooded Texas towns recover, downstream river levels haven’t yet peaked
While Gov. Greg Abbott declared “the worst of the rain is behind us,” he cautioned that rivers in the hardest-hit counties still pose a danger.
Posted in
Environment
Key differences spared Texas lives in second straight July flood
Emergency responders say better tools and preparation also played life-saving roles after intense storms dropped heavy amounts of rain.
Posted in
Environment
Proposed EPA rule could weaken Texans’ voice on certain air permits used by data centers
The change would give states greater power on deciding how much notice and public input residents receive before such permits are approved or denied.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Texas leads nation in proposed power plants for data centers, which would emit large amounts of greenhouse gases
Nearly half of the power plants planned to supply electricity for data centers would be in Texas. Experts warn they will emit significant pollution that could harm the health of communities nearby.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Hundreds of data centers are coming to Texas. Here’s what you need to know.
Texas is experiencing an AI-driven data center boom with at least 248 projects planned statewide. Here’s what to know about the industry’s rapid growth and the debate over its impact.
Posted in
Energy
Texas leaders are asking data centers how much water they use. Most aren’t responding.
Data centers use water to cool their massive arrays of computer servers. A state agency sent out a survey to figure out how much, but less than a third of the companies responded.
Posted in
Environment
Texas agency to set rules for using treated fracking wastewater on farmland
The state’s environmental regulator will hold a public hearing June 15 on its proposed rules for how the toxic wastewater can be reused. Here’s what you should know.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating sales tax exemption
The recommendations for legislative action amount to a striking call for industry regulation by the Republican governor in a state that has long prided itself on being a favorable environment for business.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Eight data centers threaten to transform this small Texas county. Local officials say they have no power to stop them.
At least 248 data centers are planned to be built in Texas. Of those, nearly half will be built in unincorporated areas, where county officials are limited in their ability to regulate development, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.
