Texas is the top wind power state, but the expiration of a key tax credit at the end of this year could significantly impact the state, which contains about a fifth of the nation’s turbines.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Energy
Environmental Groups: Commission Stalling on Clean Energy
Environmental groups filed a petition on Wednesday accusing the state’s Public Utility Commission of failing to meet renewable energy targets and thus depriving the state of more solar and geothermal power.
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Energy
Billionaire’s Firm Makes Initial Payments in Deal Over Radioactive Dump
Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons’ Waste Control Specialists, which runs a radioactive waste dump in Andrews County, has made its first payments to the county and state after years of controversy.
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Energy
Perry Staffer Named Railroad Commission Executive Director
Milton Rister, a former Republican political operative who is currently a member of the governor’s senior staff, will become the new executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission.
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Energy
Fear of Regulations Pervades a Small, Struggling Town
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.
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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.