A tort-reform bill that would discourage property owners from suing insurers over weather-related claims tentatively passed the Texas Senate on 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
New in Trib+Water: Spotlighting interbasin transfers
In this week’s edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A closer look at the regulatory structure of interbasin transfers, the Senate moves to protect the San Marcos River and an interview with Ashleigh Acevedo, an attorney at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
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Energy
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim.
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Energy
In private meeting, Sid Miller says hog poison safeguard not “doable”
In a March 3 meeting with a constituent, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller suggested that his agency could change the label on a hog poison to eliminate important warnings and a requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned animals, which he said simply wasn’t “doable.”
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Energy
AG Paxton drops Brownsville lawsuit over plastic bag fee
Attorney General Ken Paxton has dropped a lawsuit against the city of Brownsville over a 2010 ordinance that imposed a $1 per-transaction fee on plastic bags offered at grocery stores and other retailers.
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Energy
Legislature passes much-criticized bill reforming oil and gas regulatory agency
A Democratic senator on Tuesday made a last-ditch effort to beef up a bill aimed at reforming and reauthorizing the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency — legislation environmental groups and watchdogs have decried as toothless.
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Energy
House panel debates state parks funding
A measure that would’ve guaranteed a set amount of funding to state parks was upturned in 2015. Lawmakers and advocates are hoping similar legislation will stick this session.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
New in Trib+Water: Going to Texas to escape the seas
In this week’s edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: More folks could be “gone to Texas” to escape rising sea levels, a report urges recycling of oil and gas field wastewater and an interview with Tom Arsuffi of the Llano River Field Station.
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Energy
Tree protection ordinances targeted by Republicans, defended by city officials
City officials on Monday testified against a bill that would limit the ability of Texas cities to ban residents from cutting down trees on their properties. Republican lawmakers have filed several such bills this year.
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Energy
ExxonMobil ordered to pay $20 million for air pollution at Houston plants
Environment Texas described the fine against the world’s largest oil company as the “largest penalty resulting from a citizen suit in U.S. history.”