Texas likes to be No. 1 at everything. But the state is last when it comes to the reliability of our electrical system, according to a recent assessment by an outside group. Can higher prices and conservation solve the problem?
Kate Galbraith
Kate Galbraith covered energy and environment for the Tribune from 2010 to 2013. Previously she reported on clean energy for The New York Times from 2008 to 2009, serving as the lead writer for the Times' Green blog. She began her career at The Economist in 2000 and spent 2005 to 2007 in Austin as the magazine's Southwest correspondent. A Nieman fellow in journalism at Harvard University from 2007 to 2008, she has an undergraduate degree in English from Harvard and a master's degree from the London School of Economics. She is co-author of “The Great Texas Wind Rush,” a book about how the oil and gas state won the race to wind power.
Posted in
Energy
Does It Matter Who Wins the Railroad Commission Runoffs?
The four Republican Railroad Commission candidates sound remarkably similar on the big-ticket topics. But that doesn’t mean they will vote the same way on everything once they get into office.
Posted in
Energy
Petrochemical Boom Fuels Hopes and Concerns
A dozen or more chemical plants in Texas are moving forward with expansion projects, spurred by the cheap natural gas created by hydraulic fracturing. But the boom is also raising concerns about water and air pollution.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Slideshow: The Drilling Boom in Midland
Midland lies at the heart of a region that produces 14 percent of the world’s oil. With oil prices above $80 a barrel on the world market, the area is experiencing a major boom. But the growth has also strained Midland like never before.
Posted in
Energy
Slideshow: The Drilling Boom in Midland
Midland lies at the heart of the Permian Basin, a region that produces 14 percent of the nation’s oil — and with oil prices high, the place is booming. But the rapid growth has also strained this once tight-knit community as never before.
Posted in
Energy
Midland’s Latest Oil Boom Has Side Effects
Midland has always thought of itself as a small town, but an oil boom is rapidly reshaping the area. Housing as expensive (and hard to find) as New York City’s has become the norm, and the strain is evident on schools and roads.
Posted in
Energy
Soot is an Underrated Threat, Scientists Say
Soot gets less attention in Texas than the big daddy of air pollution, ozone. But scientists say that it is a growing threat for Texans, and the Environmental Protection Agency is tightening standards.
Posted in
Energy
Drought Caused Biggest Drop in Ogallala Aquifer in 25 Years
The historic Texas drought caused the Ogallala Aquifer to experience its largest decline in 25 years across a large swath of the Texas Panhandle, new numbers from a water district show.
Posted in
Energy
Regulators Approve Hike in Wholesale Electric Prices
The Public Utility Commission approved a 50 percent increase for the cap on wholesale electricity prices on the Texas electrical grid. That will mean higher prices for ordinary Texans, consumer advocates fear.
Posted in
Energy
Texas’ Blackout Avoidance Measures Could Cost Billions, Group Says
Texas’ efforts to stave off future blackouts could cost ordinary households hundreds of dollars per year, a filing by a Texas industrial group suggests. Texas regulators are due to vote on the proposal next week.
