The Texas Railroad Commission regulates one of the most advanced industries in the world — oil and gas drilling. Yet the commission’s software systems, many of its rules and even its name are from another era. But change is coming.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Energy
TribLive: Dewhurst on the Water Plan
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about how much it will take to jump-start the state’s as-yet-unfunded water plan.
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Energy
State Water Plan Slowly Coming Into Focus
Major water infrastructure projects have languished in Texas for years. But a new sense of urgency has spurred lawmakers this year to take a serious look at a multibillion-dollar plan that could help secure water for the state for 50 years.
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Energy
Scientists Close to Testing Tracers for Drilling Fluid
Controversy over whether hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, poses a threat to groundwater has spurred a group of scientists to try to make fracking fluid traceable — by injecting it with DNA.
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Energy
The Polling Center: Lawmakers Fret About Water, but the Public Doesn’t
Water has emerged as the top infrastructure issue before the 83rd Legislature — an issue that appears to be more important to lawmakers than to most of the people they represent.
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Energy
Regulators Face Criticism Over Earthquake Monitoring
As domestic drilling continues to boom, more earthquakes are occurring, and states are taking action to fight them. But not in Texas, where the most drilling is taking place.
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Energy
TribLive: A Conversation with Allan Ritter
Full video of my January 17 TribLive conversation with state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.
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Energy
TribLive: Ritter on Water as a Local Issue
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, talked about what it will take to make local communities recognize the magnitude of the state’s water crisis.
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Energy
TribLive: Ritter on Funding the Water Plan
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House National Resources Committee, talked about his desire to withdraw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to jump-start the state water plan.
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Energy
Plans for New Reservoir Could End Long-Running Battle
The Lower Colorado River Authority this week approved a plan that should ease the strain on the Highland Lakes, the Central Texas water source that has long pitted rice farmers against municipalities.