Four days after the Senate approved landmark legislation that would pre-empt local control over a variety of oil and gas activities, the Texas House advanced another response to Denton’s vote to ban hydraulic fracturing.
Jim Malewitz
Jim Malewitz was a reporter at the Tribune from 2013 to 2017, covering energy and environment and then working on investigations. Previously, he covered those issues for Stateline, a nonprofit news service in Washington, D.C. The Michigan native majored in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa and holds a master’s from the University of Iowa. There, he helped launch the nonprofit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, where he currently serves on the board of directors. Jim also coaches the Texas Tribune Runoffs, which, sources say, is the scrappiest coed newsroom softball team west of the Mississippi.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Takes Aim at Public Labor Groups
The Texas Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would make it tougher for public sector labor groups to collect dues by prohibiting state agencies and local governments from deducting union dues from many paychecks.
Posted in
Energy
EPA Closely Watching Bill to Speed State Permits
Texas appears poised to enact environmental legislation that could trigger an unintended consequence: more federal oversight.
Posted in
Energy
Texas to Sue Feds Over “Clean Power Plan”
Attorney General Ken Paxton says he plans to sue the Obama administration over the proposed “Clean Power Plan,” its sweeping plan to combat climate change by slashing carbon emissions from power plants.
Posted in
Energy
“Denton Fracking Bill” Headed to Abbott’s Desk
The so-called Denton fracking bill is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. The Senate on Monday approved a bill to pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities.
Posted in
Energy
State High Court Punts on Major Water Case
The murky rules for regulating groundwater pumping aren’t going to get any clearer after the state Supreme Court declined to take a case that might have helped clarify when a property owner’s right of capture can be restricted.
Posted in
Energy
Justices Again Avoid Underground Trespassing Question
The Texas Supreme Court won’t re-examine a high-profile case that asked a perplexing question: If industrial wastewater pollutes your groundwater, can you sue for trespassing?
Posted in
Energy
House Advances Bill to Speed Permits, Limit Protests
Contending that Texas is struggling to lure businesses, House lawmakers on Thursday gave initial approval to bill to quicken the pace at which regulators crank out permits for major industrial projects – by limiting public scrutiny.
Posted in
Energy
Bills Aim to Speed Up Permits, Limit Protests
Business-friendly Texas still isn’t quite friendly enough, Republican lawmakers say, and they’re pushing legislation to curtail public input and speed up permits issued by state environmental regulators.
Posted in
Energy
UT Survey Finds Support for City Fracking Decisions
A hefty slice of Americans support local control over hydraulic fracturing, according to new University of Texas at Austin survey.
