Oncor Airs Concerns with Ray Hunt Takeover Plan
Top officials at Oncor, Texas’ largest electric utility, aired concerns on Monday with Dallas billionaire Ray L. Hunt’s $18 billion proposal to take over and reshape their company. Full Story
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![Oncor CEO Bob Shapard testifies before the Texas Public Utility Commission on Jan. 11, 2016. He expressed concerns over the Hunt family's plan to buy Oncor, the state's largest electric utility.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Add Rick Perry to Those Taking Issue with Hunt's Oncor Plan
Former Gov. Rick Perry is raising concerns about Ray L. Hunt’s proposal to buy Oncor, state’s largest electric transmission company — speaking out as Texas regulators prepare to kick off hearings on the mammoth deal. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry at his presidential campaign kickoff on June 4, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Retirees Group Spars With Hunt Over Oncor Sale
America’s biggest retiree group wants state regulators to reject oilman Ray L. Hunt's proposal to buy the state’s biggest electric transmission company, suggesting it will shift wealth from everyday Texans to rich folks in suits. Full Story
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Abbott's Office Touts Tax Incentives He Once Questioned
On the campaign trail, Greg Abbott suggested government should get "out of the business of picking winners and losers.” But his office strongly supports the taxpayer-funded incentives Texas uses to lure in businesses. Full Story
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Humble Trucker Wins Hollow Victory in Workers' Comp Case
State regulators have told an injured truck driver what he already knew — that his insurance company failed to properly document his debilitating back injury — but the finding won't help Juan Boston pay his medical expenses. Full Story
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![Juan Boston, of Humble, holds a sign in support of injured workers on the steps of the Texas Capitol. The former truck driver has fought a years-long battle for workers' compensation benefits following a back injury that required surgery.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Big Bend Pipeline Now Closer to Approval
A coalition of ranchers, environmentalists and disgruntled landowners has suffered a major setback in its battle to block a proposed pipeline that would carry natural gas beneath 143 miles of largely untouched Big Bend-area land. Full Story
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![A sign opposing the Trans-Pecos pipeline hangs in a neighborhood near where the pipeline could run near Alpine.]()
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Texas Targets EPA Smog Rule in Latest Suit
Texas is suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency again. This time, the state is targeting tightened standards on ground-level ozone — President Obama’s effort to cut down on smog that chokes the nation’s skies. Full Story
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As Oil Prices Plunge, New Scrutiny of Gas Tax Credit
By reclassifying oil wells as gas wells, producers can often claim a generous state tax credit targeting “high cost” natural gas. Now, some lawmakers say the policy deserves a fresh look. Full Story
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Big Oil's Trouble, Drilling Rules were Top Energy Stories of 2015
Texans could hardly avoid the doom-and-gloom headlines about plummeting oil prices in 2015. But that was far from the only major storyline in energy this year. Full Story
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Study: Barnett Shale Is Richer Than Previously Thought
North Texas’ Barnett Shale — one of the country’s largest natural gas fields and the birthplace of modern fracking — holds twice as much reachable gas as previously thought, the federal government says. Full Story
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Railroad Commission Names New Executive Director
The Texas Railroad Commission has named Kimberly Corley as its new executive director. Full Story
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![Newly-named Texas Railroad Commission Executive Director Kimberly Corley speaks at STEM Education Day on Friday, May 10, 2013.]()
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Abbott Gets in the Ring, Approves $2.7 Million for WrestleMania
Gov. Greg Abbott has committed $2.7 million in taxpayer dollars to bring WrestleMania to AT&T Stadium in Arlington next year, one of 20 events his office has approved such funding for since September. Full Story
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![WWE Wrestlemania 28, The Rock vs John Cena on April 1, 2012.]()
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Porter Drops Re-election Bid; Others Consider Jumping In
Railroad Commissioner David Porter announced Thursday that he will exit his primary battle against Republican activist John Greytok. Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is exploring a run for the seat. Full Story
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![Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter.]()
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Texas Scientist Aims to Revolutionize Electricity Grid
Paul Chu, founding director and chief scientist at the University of Houston’s Texas Center for Superconductivity, discusses how energy storage could revolutionize the grid, and how Texas plays a role in advancing the technology. Full Story
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![Physicist Paul Chu, head of the University of Houston's Center for Superconductivity, speaks at a research summit organized by the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas on Nov. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Staffers Say Texas Regulator Should Nix Oncor Deal
Experts at the Public Utility Commission of Texas are urging its three commissioners to reject plans by a Dallas oilman and real estate tycoon to take over the state’s largest electric transmission company. Full Story
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Dallas to Require Breaks for Construction Workers
Aiming to prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses, the Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved a measure requiring construction companies to give their employees a 10-minute rest break every four hours. Full Story
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Lawmakers Grill Miller on Ag Fee Hikes
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller faced pointed questions from lawmakers Tuesday over his plan to dramatically hike fees on a host of licenses, registrations and services that his agency provides. Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller testifies during a hearing of the state Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs on Dec. 8, 2015. He defended a proposal to hike fees on services and licenses his agency provides.]()
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Uber-Style Moving Apps Draw State's Attention
A new breed of app-based moving companies has drawn the interest of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, which wants to ensure that companies with names like Buddytruk and PICKUP are following state laws. Full Story
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![A new breed of app-based moving companies has drawn the interest of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, which wants to ensure that the companies are following state laws.]()
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Video: Bridging the Digital Divide
On 12/4, I talked about the digital divide in Texas with Juanita Budd of Austin Free-Net, Becky Garlick of Blinn College, Will Reed of Technology for All and state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. Full Story
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Judge Approves Energy Future Holdings' Bankruptcy Plan
A federal bankruptcy judge has signed off on a plan break up key pieces of Energy Future Holdings — a major step in the conglomerate’s effort to shed tens of billions of dollars in debt. Full Story
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