Oil may dominate in Texas, but coal is still king in some small towns. That’s why talk of stricter air pollution regulations in towns like Jewett — where the economy is already stagnant — puts some residents on edge.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Energy
Deferred Maintenance Imperils State Parks
Fall weather may bring more Texans outside, but delayed maintenance and years of cuts have left state parks and historical sites struggling — and some on the verge of closure.
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Energy
Fight Over Salamanders a Preview of Debates to Come
A federal proposal to list four Central Texas salamanders as endangered species has provoked a fierce debate about how humans affect the natural world. But the back-and-forth also foreshadows future fights likely to take place as more species come up for review.
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Energy
Electricity Concerns Persist After Pollution Ruling
With temperatures projected to soar during the final days of August, the state of the Texas electric grid will once again be on policymakers’ minds — though some reliability concerns may be eased since a federal court struck down an EPA rule that could have affected coal plants.
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Energy
At Senate Hearing, a Debate Over Renewable Energy Incentives
At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Texas Public Utility chairwoman Donna Nelson sharply criticized renewable energy incentives, saying that they are “one of the primary causes” of the current strains on the state power grid.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Interactive Map: Public Water System Shortages
The drought that began in October 2010 has continued into 2012, and it has taken a toll on Texas’ water supplies. This map shows communities that are at risk of running out of water within 180 days.
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Energy
Texas Sees Growing List of Property-Rights Cases
A Texas farmer’s battle to keep the Keystone XL oil pipeline off her property is only the most visible of what some legal experts describe as a rising tide of property-rights cases across Texas.
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Energy
Forged in Flames: An Oral History of the Labor Day Wildfires
A year ago, much of Central Texas was in danger because of raging wildfires. Drought-sticken green spaces had provided the perfect tinder for far-reaching blazes. These are the stories of Central Texans who lived through the Labor Day wildfires.
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Energy
In Texas, Moving Crude Relies on Aging Pipeline System
Starting last year, federal regulators began urging pipeline operators to replace aging systems. Nowhere may that be more critical than in Texas, which is experiencing a major change in how crude oil is flowing up and down the state.
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Energy
Bastrop Park’s Planting Campaign Puts Emphasis on Seed Banking
The Texas Forest Service wants to plant 4 million loblolly pine seedlings in Bastrop State Park over the next few years, to help restore the forest after last year’s fires. But stored seedlings were almost thrown out ahead of the fires.