The chief executive of the Texas electric grid operator discusses what caused the rolling blackouts across the state on Wednesday — and why he doesn’t know if he lost power in his own home.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Economy
Texas Won’t Secede — But It Won’t Shut Up Either
Texas leaders aren’t talking about secession, after an outbreak of conversation a couple of years ago. But the germ of the idea remains in the anti-federalist talking points that fueled Gov. Rick Perry’s re-election campaign last year and provided the outline for his book, Fed Up!
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Energy
Head of Texas Grid Discusses Blackouts
The chief executive of ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, said that “extremely cold” temperatures and windy conditions caused valves, pipes and other equipment in some power plants to fail.
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Energy
The Rolling Chain of Events Behind Texas Blackouts
What happened yesterday to cause the rolling power blackouts across Texas? A chain reaction of problems involving the state’s coal and gas appeared to be the cause — and wind plants were having trouble, too.
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Energy
EPA Proposes New Regulations on Rocket Fuel Ingredient
The Environmental Protection Agency is developing new drinking-water regulations for a toxic rocket-fuel ingredient found in 26 states — including Texas.
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Energy
ERCOT Ends Emergency Blackouts
Power out at your house? You’ve got good company — 400,000 other Texans, as of noon today. But as of this afternoon, the lights (and heat) should be coming back on. The demand for power exceeded generation capacity around midnight last night, causing more than 50 generators to shut down statewide
Posted in
Environment
Michael Williams on Climate Change
The 2012 U.S. Senate candidate on whether he believes climate change exists.
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Demographics
A Conversation With Michael Williams
For our latest TribLive conversation, I sat down with the soon-to-be-ex railroad commissioner and declared 2012 U.S. Senate candidate to talk about why he’s running, what he thinks of his potential primary opponents and how his campaign will or won’t be impacted by his race.
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Energy
Slideshow: Native Grasses
A slideshow of Bill Neiman’s seed-cleaning facility near Junction.
Posted in
Energy
Bill Neiman Discusses Native Seeds
Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed in Junction, Texas, talks about how his career focus evolved from conventional landscapes to native plants.