Even Texans with the greenest of lawns are watering them too much, experts say. And if everyone would turn on the sprinklers only twice a week — still probably more than necessary — the water savings would be significant, according to a report released Tuesday.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Blood Lessons: Survivors Recall a Disastrous Day
Ten years after the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion, hear from two workers who survived it — but lost many of their friends. These videos and vignettes are part of a collaboration between The Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle.
Posted in
Energy
Confusion Swirls Over Bill to Clarify Drilling Rules
After Denton voters decided to ban fracking in their town, it seemed likely this Legislature will do something to rein in cities that try to regulate oil and gas production. But one likely approach by Rep. Drew Darby is stoking local fears.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Blood Lessons: Unsafe Conditions Persist at Nation’s Refineries
Ten years after the 2005 Texas City explosion, there is little evidence that the 15 lives lost on that March day brought needed changes to the nation’s refining industry, a joint Texas Tribune/Houston Chronicle investigation shows.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Blood Lessons: Could the Texas City Tragedy Happen Again?
The Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle spent months examining whether the nation’s oil refineries learned the lessons of the deadly explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery in 2005. Ten years later, their investigation shows, the death toll has barely slowed.
Posted in
Energy
Texas Town Goes All In on Renewable Energy
Georgetown’s municipal utility has unveiled plans to tap wind and solar energy to meet all of its customers’ power needs, making it the first Texas city-owned utility to abandon fossil fuels.
Posted in
Energy
Denton Fracking Ban Tees Up Local Control Fight
Plenty of lawmakers are siding with the oil industry in response to Denton’s vote to ban fracking inside city limits. What’s surprising this session is how few are weighing in for local control.
Posted in
Energy
Private Sector Has Hand in State Water Planning
An infusion of $2 billion into Texas’ state water plan — once a little-known wish list of water projects — has highlighted the role of private engineering and consulting firms, which play a big role in writing it.
Posted in
Energy
Isaac Jumping Into Hays County Water Fight
With a four-bill cocktail, state Rep. Jason Isaac hopes to stop, or at last slow, a Houston-based company’s plans to pump huge amounts of water from beneath Hays County.
Posted in
Economy
Budgetline: A TribCast Series on the Texas Budget
In the first episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Ross and Aman start where state officials started — with the revenue estimate. It sounds simple, but it’s a complicated stew of economics, politics and risky forecasting.
