A special legislative committee is investigating what caused the Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest in state history.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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The road to carbon neutrality also saves money
How and why did the city of San Antonio pursue onsite solar for their buildings making it the largest onsite solar program for a municipality in Texas.
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Environment
Tainted water flowed to these Texans’ homes for three years. No one told them.
A new operator was assigned to fix the well in Midland County, which is still not compliant with state standards.
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The new energy race
In Texas, ex-oil and gas workers champion geothermal energy as a replacement for fossil-fueled power plants
Texas has become an early hot spot for geothermal energy exploration as scores of former oil industry workers and executives are taking their knowledge to a new energy source.
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The new energy race
Texas energy companies are betting hydrogen can become a cleaner fuel for transportation
Supporters say developing hydrogen as a fuel is critical to slowing climate change. Critics are concerned that producing it with fossil fuels will prop up the oil and gas industry.
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A University on the RISE
UT Arlington is investing in its future with RISE 100, a transformative $60 million effort to hire 100 new tenure-stream faculty over the next few years.
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Economy
Gulf Coast petrochemical growth draws billions in tax breaks despite pollution violations
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project compiled data on every U.S. plastics plant built, expanded or proposed since 2012, revealing massive growth in Texas.
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Panhandle Wildfires
“It does not get easier”: Texas ranchers lose cattle and land in historic wildfires
As ranchers recover from the Smokehouse Creek fire, they face the agonizing choice of what to do with an unknown number of injured cattle.
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Economy
New EPA rule to slash cancer-causing emissions from sterilization facilities
Laredo residents who live near a sterilization plant say the new federal limits on the pollutant will improve air quality and reduce their city’s high cancer risk.
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Panhandle Wildfires
Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safe
As firefighters work to put out the largest wildfire in Texas history, here’s a guide to fire weather watches, safety tips and how to find organizations collecting donations to directly help local residents, including farmers and ranchers.