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.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.”
Posted in
Energy
Feral hog poison in Texas on hold — for now
The company behind the only EPA-approved pesticide for feral hogs has withdrawn its request for registration in Texas. But that doesn’t mean the battle over the warfarin-based poison’s safety is finished.
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Energy
West Texas nuclear waste project on hold — for now
Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to temporarily suspend a review of its application to store tens of thousands of metric tons of spent nuclear fuel at its West Texas dump.
