The lieutenant governor’s office is one of the most powerful in Texas government, and the 2026 race features a Democratic runoff between Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Environment
Study finds toxic benzene emissions along the Texas Gulf Coast are among the highest in the nation
Researchers found that state policy and oil refineries’ failure to fix leaks contributed more to high benzene emissions than the size or capacity of the refineries.
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Environment
Testing finds toxic metals where Tesla lithium refinery discharges wastewater in South Texas
The drainage district that commissioned the testing has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company, which says it is in compliance with all requirements for its state wastewater discharge permit.
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Environment
Corpus Christi leaders weigh how much to reduce customers’ water use amid growing crisis
A proposal the city council is expected to vote on next week includes requiring customers to cut their water use by 25% and imposing additional fees on water used beyond certain limits.
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Energy
Low-producing oil wells linger for years, causing headaches for Texas landowners
Jackie Chesnutt, who lives outside San Angelo, is tired of pollution from nearly inactive wells. Experts say Texas rules allow companies to defer plugging wells for far too long.
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Environment
As Corpus Christi scrambles to find more water, nearby cities are facing their own water woes
Like their larger neighbor, small South Texas cities are drilling new water wells amid a stubborn drought. But experts say that could deplete local aquifers.
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Environment
Texas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says
That new amount is more than double the amount predicted four years ago. The new forecast comes as supply is already drying up.
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Economy
She won a $7M grant to teach Texans how to farm. Then the Trump administration yanked it over DEI.
Diana Padilla has spent a decade teaching Rio Grande Valley residents how to farm and was set to expand across the rest of the state, first in Kaufman County.
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Hill Country floods
Camp Mystic security guard says an early evacuation order could have saved lives
A court hearing this week has produced extensive details from camp operators of what happened in last year’s Hill Country flood.
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Environment
Tesla’s Gigafactory water use surges in Austin as new chip plant looms
Tesla’s Giga Texas water use jumped more than 200 million gallons — by about 60% — in two years, as massive chip plant proposal raises concerns about Austin’s strained supply.