The latest energy news from The Texas Tribune.
Comptroller Glenn Hegar launched a torrent of criticism at Moody’s Investors Service on Thursday after the credit rating agency released a report suggesting a drilling slowdown could eat up a projected $4 billion budget surplus by December. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature’s efforts to beef up state oversight and avert deadly disasters like the 2013 West fertilizer plant explosion have been “not entirely adequate,” the federal Chemical Safety Board says in its final report. Full Story
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Despite a recent ad bashing Donald Trump for employing eminent domain for a parking lot, Ted Cruz has backed the Keystone XL and other pipeline projects that would use the same controversial tool to displace landowners. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A new study highlights four states' differing approaches to water strategies, rapid growth poses new dangers to the Hill Country and an interview with Zachary Sugg of the University of Arizona. Full Story
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While Comptroller Glenn Hegar tried to assure lawmakers that plummeting oil prices do not mean the Texas economy is headed for a nosedive, some worried Hegar was being overly optimistic. Full Story
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One of University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves' top priorities in his first year in office is to expand UT-Austin’s international presence. And a key part of that mission will be Mexico, which Fenves will visit this week. Full Story
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"Politicians shouldn’t mess with churches or farmers, and this is a church full of farmers,” says Janey Burke of Roscoe's Champion Baptist Church, whose congregation can be counted among those outraged by Sharyland Utilities' bills. Full Story
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A federal appeals court on Thursday denied a request from Texas and other states to block President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, leaving the climate change rules in place as a legal challenge winds through the courts. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/21 conversation with Glenn Hegar, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Topics discussed: oil prices, taxes, jobs and economic incentives. Full Story
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Because of crashing oil prices, Texas will send far less of its money in the coming years to transportation than it originally expected, Comptroller Glenn Hegar told state lawmakers on Wednesday. But the Republican’s overarching message? Don’t panic. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A look back at the changes wrought water-wise by LBJ on the Hill Country, the EPA is asked to take the lead in safeguarding the Texas environment and a call to consider easements in a high-profile transmission line case. Full Story
Alleging that Texas has dramatically eroded its safeguards against air and water pollution, two environmental groups are asking the federal government to step in. Full Story
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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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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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Wayne Christian has resumed his campaign for Texas railroad commissioner, ending a short hiatus that shook up the Republican primary contest. Full Story
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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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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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Take a look back at Starstruck, our interactive project on the big — and sometimes secretive — plans for commercial space flight from South and West Texas. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: Water and the EPA dominated environment news this year, flooding in Travis County raises more questions about emergency response and an op-ed from Sara E. Smith of Environment Texas on stormwater pollution. Full Story
Take a look back at The Texas Tribune's five-part Undrinkable series, which revealed how border communities lack reliable, clean water despite a multibillion-dollar effort that has spanned decades. Full Story
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