Energy

"It's a joke": Flaring expert finds big problems in report from Texas oil and gas regulator

by Mose Buchele, KUT News

"It looks more like a political manifesto to me," a Texas A&M professor said about a report from the Railroad Commission of Texas. Full Story 

Report: Six Texas oil refineries spewing cancer-causing pollutant above federal threshold

by Kiah Collier

An environmental nonprofit has released an analysis of first-of-its-kind air monitoring data that shows benzene levels at 10 U.S. petroleum refineries exceeded limits established in an Obama-era environmental regulation. Six are in Texas. Full Story 

Partisan tension hung over State of the Union — even before Texas congresswoman gave rebuttal from El Paso

by Abby Livingston and Julián Aguilar

President Donald Trump touted economic and military successes. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin was among Democrats who walked out. Afterwards, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar rebutted Trump's speech from El Paso. Full Story 

Ahead of explosion, Port Neches plant reported an increase of rogue emissions of explosive gas

by Kiah Collier

After the federal government required TPC Group to install air monitors at its Port Neches plant, the company detected a significant increase in the number and size of butadiene emissions in the months leading up to multiple blasts at the plant on Nov. 27. Full Story 

Texas oil and gas industry could see a major slowdown in 2020

by Kiah Collier

The Texas Oil and Gas Association reported that companies paid a record level of taxes and state royalties last year amid a historic oil boom. But association President Todd Staples said that continued growth is not guaranteed. Full Story 

Texas regulators want stiffer penalties for company whose Port Neches plant exploded

by Kiah Collier

In a surprising vote, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rejected a staff-proposed penalty against TPC Group's Port Neches chemical plant — which was rocked by explosions last month — for a slew of 2018 pollution violations and asked that they be referred to the Texas Attorney General's Office. Full Story 

County ends voluntary evacuation of Port Neches, the second since last week's plant explosion

by Kiah Collier and Jolie McCullough

After recommending Wednesday night that residents leave the area, Jefferson County officials have told residents it's safe to return home. Full Story 

Report: Texas ranks second in budget cuts for environmental protection

by Kiah Collier

An analysis by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project found that 30 states have cut funding to environmental agencies over the past decade. In Texas, lawmakers slashed spending by more than a third between 2008 and 2018. Full Story 

Retired Texas shrimper wins record-breaking $50 million settlement from plastics manufacturing giant

by Kiah Collier

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt approved the settlement agreement between a scrappy environmental coalition and plastics giant Formosa. The settlement is the largest in U.S. history resulting from a citizen environmental suit. Full Story 

Pipeline giant sues Railroad Commission, alleging lax oversight of natural gas flaring

by Kiah Collier

A subsidiary of Tulsa-based Williams Cos. is suing Texas' oil and gas regulatory agency after it approved a request from Dallas-based Exco Operating Co. to burn off natural gas from wells in South Texas while they were hooked up to Williams' pipeline system. Full Story 

Trump EPA eases safety requirements enacted after West explosion

by Kiah Collier

Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the new rules, saying they would make Texans safer. The Obama-era regulation was meant to improve chemical safety practices and prevent tragedies like the deadly 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in the tiny Central Texas town of West. Full Story 

Two of U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry's political supporters won "potentially lucrative" Ukraine energy deal, report says

by Brandon Formby

The Associated Press reports that the oil and gas exploration contract was awarded after Perry recommended one of his backers as an energy adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Full Story 

Dallas attorney Chrysta Castañeda to challenge Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton

by Patrick Svitek

Castañeda, a Democrat, is centering her 2020 campaign on the issue of flaring, or the burning of natural gas that companies do not move to market. Full Story 

What role did Rick Perry play in the Trump-Ukraine incidents at the heart of the impeachment inquiry?

by Abby Livingston

The president said his energy secretary suggested he talk to the Ukrainian president. Perry, once Texas' governor, said his prodding was about energy and the economy — not the Bidens. Full Story 

T. Boone Pickens, famed Texas oilman, dies at 91

by Kiah Collier and Carrington Tatum

The energy pioneer and philanthropist died of natural causes at his home in Dallas surrounded by friends and family, a spokesman said Wednesday Full Story 

Julián Castro unveils climate plan centered on Green New Deal principles

by Alex Samuels

The plan carries a $10 trillion price tag and calls on the country to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Full Story 

Trump administration announces rollback of Obama-era methane regulations

by Kiah Collier

The unwinding of requirements that oil and gas companies tamp down on climate-warming methane leaks has big implications for Texas, the nation's petroleum king. Full Story 

Texas unemployment rate drops to lowest level since feds began tracking it in 1976

by Troy Closson

The state's unemployment rate for May dropped to 3.5%, an all-time low. That breaks the record low of 3.7% reached in April. Full Story 

An amendment about waste facility fees was added to a widely supported domestic violence bill. Will it stick?

by Shannon Najmabadi

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst's office said Saturday that she "is still evaluating all options available to save SB 1804." Full Story 

Renewable energy proponents brace for last-minute attack on tax breaks for wind and solar

by Kiah Collier

For the past year, an influential conservative think tank has lobbied to make wind and solar projects ineligible for a popular local property tax abatement program. A measure to do that has stalled, but renewable advocates are watching for last-minute changes to other legislation. Full Story