Texas says it’s strict on oil field emissions. New data shows it’s not.
Texas’ rubber-stamp system allows drillers to release vast amounts of natural gas into the atmosphere. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61850ab5c9c1cff4e6e0fa0c6eccccd6/OG20250520_TexasFlaring_ProPublica-12_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_quality_95_embedColorProfile_true%20copy.jpg)
-
![A flare stack burning excess gas in Catarina, Texas on Mon, May 20, 2025.]()
Credit: Christopher Lee for ProPublica -
Texas power plants and chemical companies benefit as Trump eases pollution rules, experts say
A two-year delay on new mercury rules benefits coal-fired power plants, while chemical plants got an exemption from stricter air pollution standards. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/31aa362d46ce463ea8fcdffe8ffc3d74/Martin%20Lake%20Power%20Plant%20TP%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Steam rises from the stacks at the Martin Lake Coal-Fired Power Plant in Tatum on March 30, 2011.]()
Credit: Tom Pennington for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years
Experts say the Texas Energy Fund is facing an energy market that makes new power plants more expensive and less profitable. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b42a99387c8f36a070e596ac84388ce3/Vistra%20Midlothian%20Power%20ST%20TT%2013.jpg)
![Vistra Corp.’s Midlothian Power Plant opened its doors to media on October 15, 2021 to show the plant’s weatherization process. Energy providers like Vistra are preparing their plants for extreme weather conditions following the February winter storm Uri, which disrupted the Texas electric grid and led to the deaths of more than 200 people.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
State utility commission sues Texas attorney general to avoid releasing data on crypto companies’ power use
After The Texas Tribune and other news outlets requested the information, the Public Utility Commission argued that it could lead to acts of terrorism. When the AG’s office disagreed, the PUC sued. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab456e0c828c1afc8c481bbe7ca2fc2d/Afton%20Crypto%20Farm%20TrT%20TT%2010.jpg)
![A closet with Intermediary Distribution Frames at the Helios crypto facility near Afton on Sept. 15, 2022.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power grid
After reaching the end of their automotive lives, the batteries are being reused to provide lower-cost grid energy storage. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ccc86dadc5281075f267a5056f4a62cc/Car%20Battery%20Farm%20ICN%20TT%2001.jpg)
![580 EV battery packs are deployed in B2U’s SEPV Cuyama energy storage project in Santa Barbara County, Calif. The system charges from on-site solar and from the grid.]()
Credit: Courtesy of B2U Storage Solutions -
Texans will pay higher power bills as clean energy development slows because of tax credit cuts, economists say
The One Big Beautiful Bill drastically shortens the timeline for wind and solar projects to qualify for tax credits. This will impact even Texas, where wind and solar power have boomed and power demand is rising. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33969d744520660b68279346baf0bfbd/0416%20Solarcycle%20EH%20TT%2027.jpg)
![A solar project on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ector County.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
What are your current views on AI in journalism?
Artificial intelligence develops at a rapid pace. We are inviting you to share your thoughts in our second AI reader survey. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d21808ea36996464645c1efc3b677f7/0701%20Texas%20Tribune%20Office%20RB%2002.jpg)
![The Texas Tribune office seen on Tuesday July 1 at Capitol Center in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
SpaceX wins OK to build plant that creates liquid oxygen for rockets near South Texas beach
Cameron County commissioners approved the request this week over the objection of some residents and SpaceX critics. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/da2074bd86efec90a1d03f7cfcb26067/Boca%20Chica%20SpaceX%20BL%20TT%2022.jpg)
![A SpaceX platform behind a dune at Boca Chica beach on Aug. 8, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
Here’s what’s in Trump’s GOP megabill and how it will affect Texans
The wide-ranging bill is the vehicle for much of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, containing key changes that will affect daily life for millions of Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ef288fc4f76cb548d8e7a06f8d5653fc/Johnson%20Trump%20Bill%20Sign%20REUTERS.jpg)
![House Speaker Mike Johnson with Republican leaders signs the Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Gripas Yuri/ABACA via REUTERS -
Texas coastal town in “David and Goliath” fight against planned ammonia plant
Ingleside residents are resisting a “charm offensive” as Europe’s largest gas user plans a new facility in their small community across the bay from Corpus Christi. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3fd6966bd18c5b3e1914de14aadadd0f/DeSmog%20Ingeside%2005.jpg)
![The Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center, the largest crude oil storage and export terminal by volume in the United States, in Ingleside, Texas.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for DeSmog -
Inside Elon Musk’s stellar year at the Texas Capitol
While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cec51eb3b6ac9fc83eba1d693dff27f7/glennharvey_2025_06_21_propublica_f1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg)
![An illustration of Elon Musk standing in front of machines related to his businesses and the Texas Capitol in Austin.]()
Credit: Glenn Harvey for The Texas Tribune and ProPublica -
Oil companies want to sell their wastewater. The Texas Supreme Court decided who gets the profits.
The ruling comes as more companies are seeking to turn a profit on what has long been considered a vexing waste stream. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/825fe931a0a40a5d41a8e73386e7c94a/Fracking%20Water%20TK%20TT.jpg)
![Fracking's water demand requires the construction of ponds like these, which store millions of gallons of fresh water. Aug. 21, 2013.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included
The package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7337f1f40d53bae26cf595f362faa41c/DC%20Capitol%20Hill%20Jan%206%20SH%20TT%2008.jpg)
![The U.S. Capitol in Washington in January 2022.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
At a novel Austin-area neighborhood, geothermal energy keeps utility bills low
The development in Manor taps into the natural heat deep underground to run heating and cooling systems for the planned 7,500 homes and commercial buildings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/44dd33bb04acb982b30ee784a46fa6d2/0617%20Geothermal%20Hood%20RB%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Homes in the Whisper Valley development seen in Manor, Texas on Tuesday June 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Texas creating task forces to target Permian Basin oil field thefts
Texas lawmakers passed a suite of bills that officials said are crucial to combat losses in the state’s largest oil field. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c4963f8427ac15bba6faf48f25edf97/0625%20Truckers%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2011.jpg)
![A semi-truck waits to turn onto Texas State Highway 158 after disposing of its load at a salt-water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Supreme Court clears the way for temporary nuclear waste storage in Texas and New Mexico
The court’s decision is not a final ruling in favor of the licenses, but it removes a major roadblock. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dd4bd0dadfde4a8beefe6f3a7e5f5240/Andrews%20Waste%20ELH%20TT%2015.jpg)
![The entrance to the Waste Control Specialists site, where radioactive and hazardous waste is being stored on Jan. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Developers propose more than 100 new gas power plants in Texas
New research reveals the planned expansion of gas-fired electrical generation to power artificial intelligence and other heavy industries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d7e65cb05287ac689627af88b678964/Gas%20Plant%20Report%20DB%20ICN%2001.JPG)
![The Hays Energy Project, a 990 MW gas-fired power plant near San Marcos, pictured on May 27, 2025.]()
Credit: Dylan Baddour/Inside Climate News -
Lawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewables
With demand expected to soar, the Legislature passed bills aimed at boosting supply and making the grid more reliable. Bills to impose more regulations on renewables died. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0fd7532bd8468dbceb320d39f0fb36a5/021825%20Permian%20Basin%20File%20REUTERS%20EH%20TT%2004.jpg)
![A pump jack operates near a gas turbine power plant in the Permian Basin oil field outside of Odessa, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Eli Hartman -
Data centers are building their own gas power plants in Texas
Not long ago, developers of the massive server farms talked about powering them with wind and solar energy. Now they’re bypassing the grid and building their own gas-fired power plants on site. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a51de1e072c729d69e6cf88d83114dcc/Data%20Centers%20ICN%20BD%2001.JPG)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Dylan Baddour/Inside Climate News -
Texas allows state agency investment in BlackRock after firm steps away from climate initiatives
The firm’s removal from a state list of companies “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry was lauded by Comptroller Glenn Hegar as a “meaningful victory” for Texas’ energy economy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/31bb2d3fd5eb3fc58f41efbc7603048e/Blackrock%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![BlackRock offices in New York City.]()
Credit: Erik McGregor/Sipa USA via REUTERS