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.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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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.
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year
The tax break is one of the state’s costliest incentive programs and soon to be the most expensive of its kind in the nation.
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State Government
TDCJ official confirms in trial testimony that it could cost $1.5 billion to fully cool Texas prisons
Current and former heads of Texas’ prison system defended asking for lesser amounts to air-condition facilities during a federal trial on extreme heat in TDCJ facilities.
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Winter Storm 2021
Texas Supreme Court ends lawsuits against power generators over 2021 winter storm
Tens of thousands of residents and small businesses sought damages from power generators after losing electricity during the storm that resulted in billions in losses and 246 deaths.
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Environment
Corpus Christi is scrambling to ward off a water crisis. Here’s a guide to its water projects.
From drilling groundwater wells to recycling wastewater, Corpus Christi has launched a host of projects as it races against the clock to find more water.
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Environment
After killing its desalination project, Corpus Christi explores buying water from a privately owned plant
The City Council rejected building a plant to turn seawater into drinkable water because of the cost and environmental concerns. Now it’s looking at water from a different plant.