Within 10 days, the Public Utility Commission plans to adopt stricter requirements for energy efficiency, though they are lower than originally proposed.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
TribBlog: Smart Meters Really Are Smart
The rollout of smart meters in Texas has sparked complaints, but a new report has found that they’re accurate in 99.96 percent of cases.
TribBlog: Contemplating Workers’ Comp
A House hearing this morning on third-party liability reflected concerns over whether benefits in Texas were adequate in the case of serious workplace injuries.
TribBlog: Whooping Cranes Going to Court
The Endangered Species Act lawsuit over the last remaining naturally migrating flock of whooping cranes will move forward, a federal district judge ruled Wednesday.
Face-Off: Porter vs. Weems
The two men battling for a spot on the Texas Railroad Commission go head-to-head โ virtually โ in the latest installment of our Face-Off video series. Watch as political novice and certified public accountant David Porter, a Midland Republican, debates Democrat Jeff Weems, an oil and gas attorney from Houston, on their respective qualifications for the job, whether there are enough pipeline inspectors and and the proper balance between environmental regulation and economic growth.
Nelson Roach: The TT Interview
The past president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, who testifies before two House committees today, tells the Tribune that Texas liability law shortchanges workers caught in industrial accidents โ an issue of renewed interest since the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Nelson Roach Audio Clip
Nelson Roach Audio ClipTexas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.
TribBlog: Life’s a Beach in Texas
Texas beaches aren’t awash in oil like the sands are in some other Gulf Coast states, but they could be cleaner, a group of environmental advocates said today as it released an annual review of the nation’s beaches.
A Toxic Issue
In Texas and nationwide, controversy is escalating over the practice of shooting water, sand and chemicals underground to retrieve natural gas. Some companies have responded by using less dangerous chemicals.
TribBlog: The Sound and the Fury
Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a legal challenge on Monday against the Environmental Protection Agency, saying the agency’s rejection of Texas’ pollution-permiting system constitutes “improper overreach by the federal government.”

