Energy

Three candidates vie for slot on Texas' oil and gas regulatory agency

by Kiah Collier

Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick — a Republican whose relationship with the industry she regulates has been questioned — is seeking re-election to a second term. She faces challenges from Democrat Roman McAllen and Libertarian Mike Wright. Full Story 

How Washington unleashed fossil-fuel exports and sold out on climate

by Jie Jenny Zou, Center for Public Integrity

The Trump administration has its predecessor to thank when it comes to “energy dominance.” Full Story 

As oil and gas exports surge, West Texas becomes the world’s “extraction colony”

by Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune and Jamie Smith Hopkins and Rachel Leven, Center for Public Integrity

An unprecedented drilling boom in the Permian Basin is great for business. But it’s polluting the air, overwhelming communities and threatening the planet. Full Story 

Harris County voters pass historic $2.5 billion for flood control

by Morgan Smith and Kiah Collier

Harris County voters overwhelmingly approved a bond measure that would finance an array of flood control projects in the Houston area. Saturday's vote came on the first anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, which brought one of the worst urban floods in U.S. history to the Houston region. Full Story 

She's tasked with emergency planning at the Port of Corpus Christi. A year after Harvey, her community continues to rebuild.

by Natalia Alamdari

While Danielle Hale managed the emergency operations center at the Port of Corpus Christi during Hurricane Harvey, her family evacuated their Rockport home. A year later, she and her family continue to help Rockport rebuild, while the port continues to fine-tune its emergency preparedness plans. Full Story 

Texas oil industry experts say Mexico's plan to halt fuel imports won't have immediate impact

by Juan Luis García Hernández

Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador has vowed to halt the import of gasoline and diesel from the United States and other countries by 2021. Full Story 

Texas releases plan for how more than $209 million from Volkswagen settlement will be spent

by Sydney Greene

The state sued Volkswagen in 2016 after the German automaker admitted to using software that allowed its vehicles to circumvent emissions limits. Full Story 

"The door to the future": How Eddie Bernice Johnson could make history if Democrats win back the House

by Claire Parker

Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, has served in the U.S. House for 26 years. If her party wins control of the chamber, she's well positioned to become the first African-American representative from Texas to lead a standing committee in Congress. Full Story 

Arkema officials charged with "recklessly" releasing chemicals amid Harvey flooding

by Emma Platoff

As the floodwaters rose around the plant last year, chemicals began to overheat and then degrade, leading to a series of burns and huge plumes of black smoke. Full Story 

Environmental groups announce multi-million dollar settlement with Houston-area refinery

by Kiah Collier

The settlement will end a "citizen suit" against Pasadena Refining System that alleges years of air pollution violations. Under the Clean Air Act, citizens may sue companies if government regulators fail to act. Full Story 

Texas is using a record amount of electricity. Could demand outpace supply?

by Kiah Collier

The state's grid operator set a new all-time systemwide peak demand record on two consecutive days this week, prompting reassurances that the electricity sector "is doing what they can to keep the power on for consumers." Full Story 

As Trump backlash continues, STEM professionals in Texas run for office

by David Yaffe-Bellany

Across the country, hundreds of candidates with academic or professional experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have left their businesses and laboratories to compete in state legislative contests, congressional elections and even governor’s races. Full Story 

Mexico's new president is promising big changes. Will that affect trade with Texas?

by Julián Aguilar

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or AMLO, won big on Sunday. Now Texan business and agriculture leaders have five months to try to predict whether his expected stand-up-to-Trump strategy will hurt their bottom lines. Full Story 

Faced with failure, state to propose new plan to protect West Texas lizard

by Kiah Collier

The state comptroller's office went back to the drawing board after the failure of a 6-year-old plan to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard that relied on voluntary participation by the oil and gas industry. Full Story 

Lucrative Los Alamos National Lab contract awarded to team that includes Texas A&M

by Shannon Najmabadi

A&M is partnering with the University of California System and a research and development organization on the effort. Their extendable five-year contract with the U.S. Energy Department is worth an estimated $2.5 billion annually. Full Story 

New Mexico official says Texas landowners are “stealing” millions of gallons of water and selling it back for fracking

by Jay Root

Water restrictions in New Mexico have created a supply crunch for the fracking industry, so more free-flowing Texas water is helping to fill the void. But not without controversy: A top New Mexico politician says Texans are pumping his state's water and piping it across the state line for oil drillers. Full Story 

Environmental groups ask feds to protect threatened West Texas lizard

by Kiah Collier

Two environmental groups asked the federal government on Tuesday to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as threatened or endangered. Full Story 

Texas regulator says "misunderstanding" is making millennials shun oilfield jobs

by Kiah Collier

Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian told House lawmakers on Wednesday that the biggest threat to a burgeoning oil boom is "the acceptance of the politically-correct-driven environmental anti-oil and gas science." Full Story 

Texas is making billions from oil and gas drilling, but counties say rural roads are being destroyed

by Alex Samuels

Damage from heavy trucks has battered local roads in and around the state's oil fields, and many counties want the state to help pay for repairs and maintenance. Will lawmakers take action? Full Story 

This Texas school that inspired "Friday Night Lights" is overcrowded amid oil boom. One class has 63 kids.

by Sally Beauvais, Marfa Public Radio

Record enrollment is putting a strain on the already low-performing Ector County Independent School District. In Odessa, school administrators and teachers are parents are asking: Where are we going to put all of these kids? Full Story