With President-elect Donald Trump set to tap former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to head the department of energy, here’s a closer look at the energy legacy of the state’s longest-serving governor.
Kiah Collier
Kiah Collier was a reporter for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative initiative from 2020 through 2023. She previously worked at the Tribune as a reporter and associate editor, covering energy and the environment through the lens of state government and politics. Kiah has reported for numerous other publications across Texas since 2010, including the Austin American-Statesman and the Houston Chronicle. Her beats also have included government and politics, public education and business. Kiah’s work has been honored with numerous prizes, including a George Foster Peabody Award, a Gerald Loeb Award, the Knight-Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism, the National Edward R. Murrow Award for best investigation and the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award. A seventh-generation Texan, she grew up in the Austin area and graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in journalism and philosophy.
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Energy
Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil, and climate change probes — and how Texas is involved
Amid news that President-elect Donald Trump will make Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson the country’s next secretary of state, a refresher on the oil giant’s efforts to thwart Democratic-led probes into what it knew about climate change and when.
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Protecting the Coast
Boomtown, Flood Town: Unchecked development and the risks for Houston
Rapid development continues in Houston, creating some economic gains but also contributing to flood risks. This project, done in partnership with ProPublica, looks at those risks and the debate over what to do.
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Energy
Feds sue to block acquisition of Dallas nuclear waste company
The U.S. Justice Department is suing to block the acquisition of Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists, which wants to expand the nuclear waste dump it operates in West Texas.
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Energy
Opposition to Dakota Access pipeline boils over in Austin
Hundreds protested at the Capitol on Tuesday, one of several demonstrations across the country against the oil pipeline being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners.
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Energy
Feds: More recoverable oil in West Texas than previously thought
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that producers could tap some 20 billion more barrels of oil from under the Midland area. It’s the agency’s largest discovery of recoverable crude ever.
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Energy
How will Texas energy — and environment — fare under Trump?
President-elect Donald Trump may be seen as a boon for fossil fuels and a burden for renewables. But energy experts and clean energy groups say his victory may not be a win for Texas oil and gas — or a totally bad thing for wind and solar.
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Energy
Sunset panel passes on Railroad Commission name change
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission on Thursday snubbed several recommendations meant to enhance the Railroad Commission of Texas’ efficiency and environmental regulatory functions.
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Public Education
Republicans prevail in Texas State Board of Education races
Republicans seeking re-election to the State Board of Education managed to hang onto their seats Tuesday despite speculation that Republican Donald Trump at the top of the ballot might flip some races.
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Energy
Texas getting $190 million as judge signs VW deal
VW is atoning for its massive emissions scandal in a $15 billion settlement. A federal judge formally signed off on the deal Tuesday.
