Plastic bag bans in Texas cities such as Austin and Laredo may be legally sound, according to an opinion issued by Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office handed down on Friday afternoon — that is, as long as they didn’t ban bags for the purposes of “solid waste management.”
Neena Satija
Neena Satija worked at the Tribune from 2013 to 2019. She was an investigative reporter and radio producer for the Tribune and Reveal, a public radio program from the Center for Investigative Reporting. Previously, she was the environment reporter at the Tribune. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, she graduated from Yale University in 2011, and then worked for the New Haven Independent, the Connecticut Mirror, and WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio. She has also been a regular contributor to National Public Radio. As an East Coast transplant she is particularly thrilled with Austin tacos and warm weather.
Posted in
Energy
Environmental Justice Advocates Question Houston’s Recycling Plan
As Houston considers a radical new plan for boosting its dismally low recycling rate, some critics worry that it will continue the legacy of putting waste facilities in predominantly minority neighborhoods.
Posted in
Energy
Texas Buys Conservation Land With Oil Spill Money
Amid frustration that Texas has lagged behind in taking advantage of money that became available in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, state officials announced the largest conservation land purchase in Texas history.
Posted in
Politics
In 1917, Similarities to Perry’s Indictment
Nearly a century ago, a sitting Texas governor was indicted for allegedly playing politics with public money and yanking funding from an institution. Sound familiar?
Posted in
Energy
On Climate Rules, Texas Regulators Look Beyond Litigation
Texas should not bank on legal action to free itself from the Obama administration’s proposal to tackle climate change, two state regulators said Friday at a Public Utility Commission workshop.
Posted in
Energy
Proposed Water Supply Project Draws Praise, Concerns
San Antonio’s water utility is negotiating to pipe in 16 billion gallons of water a year from Burleson County. Officials say the plan is key to securing future water needs, but others still have questions.
Posted in
Energy
In Panhandle, a Growing Need for a Lake’s Water
Water systems in the Panhandle and South Plains last week started drawing water from a once-empty lake that is now just over 4 percent full. It’s a sign of just how strapped the region is for water supplies.
Posted in
Energy
Texas May Refuse to Follow Climate Rules
Texas’ top environmental regulator suggested Thursday that the state may ignore a proposed directive from the Obama administration to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.
Posted in
Energy
Texas’ Gulf Coast, Still Battered From Ike, Not Ready for Next Storm
Galveston is still recovering from Hurricane Ike in 2008. Dilapidated homes and empty lots dot the streets. Nearly six years after the storm, though, lawmakers continue to grapple with preparation for the next big one.
Posted in
Economy
EPA’s Proposed Emissions Limits Drawing Debate
A proposal by the federal government would place stricter limits on emissions from petrochemical and other industrial plants. An EPA hearing this week in the Houston area reflected the heated debate over balancing economic growth with air quality concerns.