The latest energy news from The Texas Tribune.
The 485-mile Oklahoma-to-Texas leg of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline is about half done and should be operational by late this year or early 2014, according to officials from TransCanada, the company building it. Full Story
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At a StateImpact Texas forum on Tuesday, a group of lawmakers agreed that the state must address road damage caused by the oil and gas boom. Such damage is estimated to have cost the Eagle Ford Shale area up to $2 billion. Full Story
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As Texas lawmakers mull a plan to safeguard the state against future water shortages, agriculture groups are already worried they might be left high and dry. Full Story
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State Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, wants to bring dairy farming back to her district by repealing a decade-old ban on the practice, the result of longstanding concerns over bovine tuberculosis. Full Story
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A who's who of mayors, lawmakers and agency officials testified at the Capitol on Tuesday in support of using $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund for water projects. But before that, they said, the state must focus on conservation. Full Story
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Texas A&M University has requested $284,000 from the Legislature to expand the operations of the state climatologist, John Nielsen-Gammon, who says more money would help support research and relieve some of his ever-growing workload. Full Story
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Plans to build a new Gulf Coast power plant called White Stallion have fizzled, marking a victory for environmental advocates and — for now, at least — the demise of new coal plant projects in Texas. Full Story
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This session, renewable energy advocates are bracing to defend critical policies that have helped Texas become the leading wind-power state. The discussions include a renewable energy mandate and a key tax incentive. Full Story
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Ten years ago, the renewable energy industry basked in political popularity. With the rise of the Tea Party, it is now under fire. Clean energy advocates will spend part of the legislative session fending off attacks. But they also have some big dreams. Full Story
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At a joint meeting of the House Natural Resources and Energy committees Wednesday, legislators said that even if fracking accounts for only a small portion of the state's water use, every drop counts. Full Story
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In addition to the discussions of water infrastructure funding at the Capitol, an even more basic issue is also on the table: whether to restructure the Texas Water Development Board. Full Story
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State Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, filed legislation this week that would create a commission to work with neighboring states like Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma on securing water for Texas. Full Story
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President Obama on Tuesday night peppered his State of the Union address with proposals for America's energy future, including natural gas development. But what do those proposals mean for Texas? Full Story
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A battle over Texas coal is heating up, as the Sierra Club is launching a targeted effort to close down 1970s-era coal plants owned by power-generation giant Luminant. It will be one of the club's biggest anti-coal campaigns in the nation. Full Story
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Several Texas cities have plans to implement potable reuse projects, which put treated wastewater through extra chemical and biological processes before it eventually becomes part of the drinking supply. Full Story
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At a joint House and Senate Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, officials found common ground over the need for conservation and the development of new technologies that could be used to increase the state’s water reserves. Full Story
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A decision by the Texas Railroad Commission has paved the way for an open-pit coal mine to begin operating on the Texas-Mexico border. Opponents of the plan are weighing their options, which include making a request for another hearing. Full Story
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Some legislators say the practice of diverting funds earmarked for state parks compromises the integrity of the state budget and the quality of parks. Full Story
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As lawmakers look for a way to fix infrastructure crumbling under the weight of a drilling boom, talk of reducing the tax money that feeds the state's Rainy Day Fund is drawing attention. Full Story
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Texas homeowners associations often require members to keep plush lawns. But some are easing their rules as the drought continues, and two Texas lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent the groups from restricting xeriscaping. Full Story
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