The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
Oil spills are not uncommon in Texas waterways, particularly along the Gulf Coast, where more than 50 billion gallons of oil are transported each year. But the number of spills has declined in recent years. Full Story
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With no end in sight to containing a spill that may have dumped 150,000 gallons of fuel oil into Galveston Bay on Saturday, the hit to Texas’ economy and environment is already huge — and sure to grow. Full Story
A small group of Texas farmers and environmental advocates is pushing for the labeling of genetically modified foods. But the effort has received little interest from Texas' Republican-dominated Legislature or from major agribusinesses. Full Story
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The city of Houston, which recycles only 6 percent of the waste it collects, has a new idea to improve that figure: Eliminate that extra blue bin altogether. Full Story
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At our 3/20 TribLive conversation, Kinky Friedman, a Democratic candidate for Texas agriculture commissioner in 2014, talked about why he wants to legalize marijuana — and what it would mean for the state. Full Story
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Allegations that a drilling equipment company illegally dumped dangerous chemicals in Ector County have stirred concerns over whether state agencies are doing enough to monitor and regulate hazardous waste in the drilling industry. Full Story
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Tesla, a manufacturer of high-end electric cars, has named Texas one of four finalists to house its planned $5 billion lithium-ion battery factory. But the state's strict auto dealership laws could hurt its chances, company officials say. Full Story
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Environmental officials in five states, including Texas, say interest in a plan to save the lesser prairie chicken should persuade the federal government not to list the bird as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Full Story
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The University of Texas at Austin professor of petroleum and geosystems on the idea of tapping methane hydrates — an abundant source of natural gas found in rocks buried beneath the ocean's surface. Full Story
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A letter from a state lawmaker asks the attorney general's office to give an opinion on whether Texas cities' bans on plastic bags are in compliance with the state’s health and safety laws. Full Story
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The ongoing drought in Central Texas is claiming an innocent bystander: hydroelectricity. As the Lower Colorado River Authority limits water releases downstream, hydroelectricity — a power source that spurred the LCRA's creation almost 80 years ago — has faded further into obscurity. Full Story
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When voters approved spending $2 billion in state money on water financing last November, they also agreed to reserve 20 percent of funding for "water conservation and reuse." Now, planners are debating exactly what that means. Full Story
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A report released this week says oil and gas companies could help slash methane emissions. But Texas, the nation’s top energy producer, is unlikely to lead the way. Full Story
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Texas' drought has sparked discussions on the need to build desalination plants and new reservoirs, but some scientists and water planners want to add "weather modification" to that list. This story was produced in partnership with KUT News. Full Story
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One of the Texas agriculture commissioner's biggest jobs is running the federally funded school breakfast and lunch program. Read what the Republican and Democratic candidates for agriculture commissioner have to say about the program. Full Story
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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says the state’s peak power demand is growing more slowly than previously thought, buying time for regulators hoping to bolster reliability on the electric grid. Full Story
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Luling, a tapped-out oil town once known as Texas' "toughest," has found a unique way to celebrate its heritage: decorating its aging pump jacks with a full cast of characters. Full Story
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All of the major Republican candidates for Texas agriculture commissioner strongly oppose any pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants — a position that the agricultural lobby says would cripple the industry in Texas. Full Story
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Most rice farmers in the lower Colorado River basin won't get irrigation water deliveries from the Highland Lakes this year, but Central Texas cities still worry that drinking water supplies could be depleted. Full Story
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We're relaunching our free newsletter on Texas water issues today with a new name, Trib+Water, and a host of new features. Over the next year we'll roll out a series of similar subject-specific newsletters. Sign up today! Full Story
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