The chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on managing wind energy, how electric cars could change the grid and what he’s learned by monitoring his electricity consumption at home .
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Parks Department Appeals to Texans for Budget Help
Only you can help Texas parks recover from devastating wildfires and a dropoff in visitor-generated revenue, the state parks department says. The agency launched a campaign today asking for donations to help fill a $4.6 million budget hole.
S. David Freeman: The TT Interview
The former general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority talks about rebuilding the organization after the “Trailergate” sex scandal, the environmental failures of public power and why electricity deregulation is a “huge mistake.”
In Galveston, Rising Sea Levels Becoming Political
According to scientists, much of what is now Galveston Island could someday be under water. As Dave Fehling of KUHF News and NPR’s StateImpact Texas reports, the potential crisis has some worrying that the city and state have ignored the threat.
Federal Agency Delays Decision on West Texas Lizard
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put off a decision on whether to declare the dunes sagebrush lizard, which lives in West Texas, an endangered species. The delay has pleased Texas business groups but alarmed environmentalists.
Updated: Grid Operator Warns Summer Blackout Threat Could Recur
In a report released Thursday, the state’s electric grid operator indicated that next summer could see a repeat of the rolling blackout threats that plagued Texas past summer. The reason: rising demand for electricity and some power plants going offline.
Video: Perry Ad Ties Obama to Carter on Energy
In his newest campaign ad โ airing today in Iowa โ Rick Perry name-checks Jimmy Carter in accusing Barack Obama of “all talk, no action” on ending America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Whooping Cranes at Center of Federal Court Case
A wild flock of whooping cranes flies each year from Canada to the Aransas marshes of the Texas Gulf Coast. As Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, the fate of the endangered birds has spurred a federal court case in Corpus Christi set to begin next week.
Experts: Texas Drought to Continue Through Spring
The drought that has plagued Texas is virtually certain to continue at least until early summer, climate experts said on Tuesday at a conference in Fort Worth. But what happens after that is anyone’s guess.
In Houston, Injection Wells Fuel Fears of Poisoned Drinking Water
Water remains a precious commodity thanks to Texas’ record drought. But in Montgomery County in Houston, as Dave Fehling of KUHF News and NPR’s StateImpact Texas reports, residents are concerned about a different threat to the water supply: wells used to dispose of toxic waste.


