President Obama’s plan to combat climate change will cause higher power prices in Texas and threaten electric reliability, but not as much as originally feared, operators of the state’s main grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas say in a new analysis.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
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Energy
Abbott to Feds: Cease Your “Land Grab”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott fired a new volley at the Bureau of Land Management Friday, adding to the years-long standoff between the state and the federal agency over the ownership of roughly 90,000 acres along the Red River.
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Energy
Austin Council Votes to Boost Solar Power
Austin is poised to dramatically expand its solar footprint after the City Council on Thursday directed Austin’s utility to line up contracts adding 600 megawatts of solar power to the city’s energy mix by the end of 2019.
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Energy
New Questions Face San Antonio Water Pipeline
Nearly a year after the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved what could be the most expensive water project in the region’s history, some council members appear to be having doubts.
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Energy
High Court Hears Groundwater Case
After hearing oral arguments Wednesday, the Texas Supreme Court will consider whether a provision in oil-and-gas law that protects landowners who don’t own the minerals beneath their property should also apply to those who don’t own the groundwater.
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Energy
High Court Might Clarify Water and Surface Rights
With developers, water marketers and others gobbling up acreage to secure groundwater rights, the state’s highest civil court is set to consider what rights landowners have to protect them from unfettered development of pumping operations on their land.
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Energy
Laura Bush Wants to Preserve Texas’ Natural Beauty
Former first lady Laura Bush is heading up a new non-profit, Texan by Nature, aimed at convincing private landowners to embrace conservation and nurture the state’s native beauty.
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Energy
In Volkswagen Challenge, Paxton Wants to Do It Himself
Seeking to fight scandal-plagued Volkswagen alone, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking two Texas counties to halt their lawsuits against the automaker.
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Criminal Justice
To Paxton’s Cheers, Court Blocks EPA Clean Water Rule
A federal appeals court has blocked a major Obama administration clean water rule, handing a victory to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other states trying to drown it in court.
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Energy
Texas Sues Volkswagen Over Emissions Cheating
Following in the footsteps of Harris County and the city of Dallas, the state announced Thursday it is suing Volkswagen in connection with the German automaker’s admitted use of software that allowed its vehicles to circumvent emissions limits.