The U.S. Department of Energy’s inspector general says that a now-bankrupt company behind a defunct West Texas “clean coal” power plant spent more than $1.3 million in federal stimulus funds on things like spa service, alcohol, first-class travel and limousine services.
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
Amarillo-area nuclear weapons plant affected by cost overruns for federal program
Millions of dollars in promised savings at the Pantex Plant in the Panhandle and another nuclear weapons facility in Tennessee haven’t appeared. But the federal government has still awarded a contractor extra profits.
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Energy
White House to withdraw controversial nominee to head Council on Environmental Quality
Kathleen Hartnett White, who once headed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, may no longer be in line to serve as a top White House environmental official.
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Guides
Hey, Texplainer: Could Texans receive a false alarm about a nuclear missile launch?
No, because the state has no warning system like Hawaii does.
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Energy
Icy Texas weather leads to new winter record for state power usage
Texas broke a new record for winter power usage on Wednesday. Despite one power company’s warning out of San Antonio, state officials said there was no threat of rolling outages.
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Graphics and data reporting
How Texas allows industrial facilities to spew unauthorized air pollution — with few consequences
Revisit our investigation of how thousands of “rogue releases” — when industrial polluters spew noxious chemicals into the air during malfunctions and other unplanned incidents, exceeding permit limits — occur in Texas each year.
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Energy
Analysis: Would you hire these people?
The easiest way to judge public officials is the same way you judge the people where you work: Are they doing a good job?
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Energy
Rick Perry ties fossil fuel use to sexual assault prevention
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in an interview Thursday that increasing fossil fuel use could prevent sexual assault.
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Energy
Perry pursuing policy on coal, nuclear power at odds with Texas record
As multiple Texas coal plants wind down operations, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is pushing a widely decried proposal to subsidize coal and nuclear plants in the name of grid resiliency.
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Energy
Texas solar industry watches as trade case moves forward
Many in the Texas solar industry are worried a federal agency might hobble their business in an effort to protect domestic manufacturers of solar panels and cells.