energy

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Feb. 11, 2012

Aguilar on an environmental battle in South Texas, Galbraith on the impact of the drought, Grissom on the latest in the Michael Morton case, Hamilton and Theobald on plans for greater scrutiny of faculty performance, Murphy on Rick Perry's campaign donors and expenditures, Ramsey on where we stand on redistricting, Ramshaw on the intense interest in stem cell rules, Root on a congressman's controversial pipeline holdings, M. Smith on the backlash against student testing and Tan on the fight for a new medical school in Austin: The best of our best content from February 6-10, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Gallego on the EPA and Same-Sex Marriage

By Evan Smith Feb. 10, 2012

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, weighed in on several issues he'll face if he wins election to Congress, including Texas vs. the EPA, same-sex marriage and funding for Planned Parenthood. Full Story
On the Border, a Battle Over Mexican Mining

By Julián Aguilar Feb. 10, 2012

A brawl is brewing in South Texas, but this one has nothing to do with cartels or drug smuggling — it's an environmental battle over a proposed surface-mining site that some Eagle Pass residents worry will ruin their way of life. Full Story

Credit: Jennifer Whitney
State's Electric Capacity Under Scrutiny

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Feb. 9, 2012

Last summer’s record heat pushed the Texas power grid to the brink. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, a state House committee today will look into what's being done to prevent that from happening again. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
What if There's a Mega-Drought? Comptroller Considers Impact

By Kate Galbraith Feb. 8, 2012

A report released Wednesday by the Texas comptroller's office looks at the impact of the current drought and other scenarios. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Rival Targets McCaul Over Pipeline Holdings

By Jay Root Feb. 7, 2012

Legislation cracking down on insider trading by members of Congress hasn’t landed on the floor of the U.S. House yet, but it’s already become a hot topic in Congressional District 10, which Michael McCaul of Austin represents. Full Story

Credit: Ed Schipul
TPPF Criticizes Upcoming "Avalanche" of EPA Rules

By Kate Galbraith Feb. 6, 2012

A report released Monday by the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation renewed its criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists say the group's concerns are misplaced. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
In Texas' Drilling Boom, a Human Toll

By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media Feb. 6, 2012

The oil and gas drilling boom continues to benefit the Texas economy, but it's coming at a human price. Dave Fehling of StateImpact Texas reports on the disturbing number of workers in the industry who are getting injured, or worse, on the job. Full Story

Credit: Kara Newhouse
BP Spill Money for Texas: $100M — and Counting

By Kate Galbraith Feb. 3, 2012

Unlike other Gulf states, Texas beaches did not get soaked with oil after the BP spill two years ago. Nonetheless, $100 million — and possibly far more, depending on the courts and Congress — is about to start flowing to Texas from BP for coastal restoration. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribune
Weekend Insider: STAAR Tests, BP Spill Money

By Justin Dehn Feb. 2, 2012

Morgan Smith explains how some parents are choosing not to let their children take the new and rigorous STAAR tests. And Kate Galbraith tells us how state officials may use money from BP for coastal restoration. Full Story
Maverick County Residents Fight Mexican Mining Operation

By Mose Buchele, KUT News Feb. 2, 2012

Coal may have fallen out of favor in the U.S., but it's still big business in Mexico, as residents of Maverick County have found out. Mose Buchele of KUT News reports on an effort along the Texas border to fight a mining operation that would bring coal to Mexican power plants. Full Story

Credit: Mose Buchele / KUT News
West Texas Drilling Brings More Jobs, and More Concerns

By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media Jan. 30, 2012

A familiar industry has brought a boomtown bluster back to West Texas cities like Midland. But as Dave Fehling of StateImpact Texas reports, drilling has intensified concerns over issues like water use, especially amid the record drought. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by KUT News
Cattle ID Proposal Has Texas Ranchers' Attention

By Kate Galbraith Jan. 27, 2012

In Texas, the largest cattle state, branding cows with a symbol like the "Rocking R" is practically a cultural necessity. But state and federal regulators are keener on another form of identification — ear tags — that's easier to standardize. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
New Wave of Drilling Transforming Parts of South Texas

By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media Jan. 26, 2012

Hydraulic fracturing has moved into parts of rural South Texas once known for their poultry and cattle industries, bringing new jobs and tax revenue. But as Dave Fehling of StateImpact Texas reports, drilling has also saddled cities with new concerns. Full Story

Credit: Dave Fehling/StateImpact Texas
Spicewood Beach Days Away From Running Out of Water

By Andy Uhler and Terrence Henry, KUT News/StateImpact Texas Jan. 26, 2012

The community of Spicewood Beach, about 40 miles northwest of Austin, is just days away from running out of water. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, the owner of Spicewood's water system is preparing to truck in water to meet residents' needs. Full Story

Credit: Merinda Brayfield
State Parks Facing Long-Term Budget Woes

By Erika Aguilar, KUT News Jan. 25, 2012

Texas Parks and Wildlife launched a public fundraising campaign last month to fill a significant budget shortfall. And as Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, the next few years could prove even rougher for state parks if the drought and extreme heat persist. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Reese
Plant Accident Exposes Weaknesses in State's Power Grid

By Mose Buchele, KUT News Jan. 24, 2012

An accident at the Sandy Creek power plant, outside of Waco, has been shrouded in secrecy since October. Mose Buchele of KUT News reports on how a delay in operations there will affect the state's electricity supply. Full Story

Credit: Jeff Heimsath/KUT News
Guest Column: Obama Got It Wrong on Keystone XL

By Barry Smitherman Jan. 23, 2012

Not only would Keystone XL have brought jobs to the United States, it would have bolstered our national security by bringing us almost 1 million barrels each day of secure, North American oil. Full Story
Guest Column: Obama Got It Right on Keystone XL

By Luke Metzger Jan. 23, 2012

The pipeline would have been a disaster for our climate, the quality of the air we breathe and critical water resources across our country. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Jan. 21, 2012

Root on the end of Rick Perry's presidential campaign, Murphy on what happens to his campaign cash, Ramsey on his next act, Ramshaw, Aaronson, Murphy, Chang and Seger interactively chart the rise and fall of his run, Aguilar talks Juárez violence with a documentary filmmaker, Galbraith on the tug-of-war over surface water, Grissom and Murphy on three decades of capital punishment in Texas, Hamilton and Aaronson on our workforce needs in 2018 and Tan on the state's much-reduced list of women's health clinics: The best of our best content from January 16-20, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman