In the Houston area, several industrial plants have repeatedly violated federal clean air standards. Dave Fehling of NPR’s StateImpact Texas reports that while one has been the target of EPA enforcement actions for years, its chemical emissions have only increased.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Energy
Voters to Decide City Elections, Amendments
It’s Election Day, and voters across the state will decide whether to add 10 amendments to the Texas Constitution. Voters in several cities also will be picking mayors and city council members.
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Demographics
Bill Would Give Border Patrol More Access to Parks, Wildlife Refuges
Environmental groups are fighting a proposal that would grant U.S. Border Patrol greater authority to operate in public parks and on environmentally protected land, saying it would circumvent regulations designed to protect natural resources.
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Energy
Amid Drought, McCaul’s Water Use Raises Eyebrows
Over 12 months of the worst drought in recorded Texas history, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul was Austin’s sixth-largest water user. It’s a disappointing record, critics say, at a time when many Texas leaders are urgently calling for conservation.
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Energy
Daniel Yergin: The TT Interview
The Pulizer Prize-winning author and leading authority on energy on his new book, The Quest; the future of Texas energy, including wind, solar and natural gas prices; and the burning national debate on how to spell “fracking.”
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Energy
Dropping Lake Levels Mean Rising Water Quality Issues
As lake and river levels continue to drop due to the intense 13-month drought, concerns about water quality are growing across Texas. It’s an issue that affects fish — and humans.
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Energy
Video: Home Weatherization Assistance Program
Austin Energy received $8 million in federal stimulus funds to weatherize the homes of low income Texans. In this video, Rusty Smith, a home inspector with the utility, explains the benefits of making these energy efficient upgrades.
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Energy
Drought Eases, but Schools Still Trying to Keep the Grass Green
Fall weather conditions may bring a small amount of relief to the drought-stricken state, but as Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, Texas’ worst single-year dry spell still has school districts wondering what to do with their football fields.
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Energy
Video: Windmillers at Work
A windmill company based in San Angelo has been making windmills since 1888 — and the family of Panhandle windmiller Mike Crowell has been in the business of fixing the machines nearly as long.
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Energy
SLIDESHOW: Texas Windmills — and Windmillers
Windmilling — the art of fixing old water windmills — is difficult and dangerous work, and now it faces competition from solar pumps. But long-time windmillers in the Panhandle wouldn’t trade their job for any other.