An amendment to the Texas Constitution on the ballot next month will lower property taxes for landowners who practice good water stewardship. It received unanimous backing in the Legislature.
Ari Auber
Posted in
Energy
Hearings Begin on Controversial Canada-Texas Oil Pipeline
As the U.S. State Department convenes hearings in Texas this week on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring tar sands crude from Canada to Texas, environmentalists are revving up their opposition.
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Energy
A Dry Odessa Looks Longingly to El Paso for Help
Odessa, running seriously low on water, is looking to the example set in El Paso, a desert city that has poured money into a desalination plant and invested in conservation.
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Energy
Controversial Pollution Rule On Track, Despite White House Shift
Even as the Obama administration delighted conservatives last week by pulling back on a broad regulation to combat ozone pollution, the controversial “cross-state” rule that would also reduce smog-forming pollutants in Texas remains on track.
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Energy
Drought Damages Texas Infrastructure
In West Texas, the main concern is water. In cities like Houston and Fort Worth, clay soil is drying up because of the blistering summer heat, bursting water pipelines and splitting asphalt roads. Across Texas, the cause of these spiraling problems is the same: a nine-month drought that shows no signs of relenting.
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Energy
Texas Comes Close to Rolling Blackouts
After more unabating triple-digit temperatures and continued skyrocketing power demand, the Texas electric grid operator warned of a “high probability” of rolling blackouts, although as of 5 p.m. the danger appeared to have abated.
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Energy
ERCOT Rolling Out First Step of Emergency Procedures
As scorching temperatures continued and Texas electricity use reached another all-time high, the state grid operator initiated the first step of emergency procedures today, seeking power from other grids, including Mexico.
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Energy
High Temperatures Bring Call for Electricity Conservation
As the triple-digit temperatures stretch into August, Texas residents are blasting their air conditioners — and straining the electric grid with record demand. The grid operator is asking that residents and businesses cut down on their electricity use in the late afternoons all week.
Posted in
Environment
Drought May Be Causing Spike in Rabies Cases
The number of animal rabies cases — particularly among skunks — has more than doubled since this time in 2010 in the Central Texas region, and the increase may be due to the state’s nine-month drought.
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Health care
Anti-Abortion Measure Targets Travis County
An amendment that conservative state lawmakers hoped would wipe out the only taxpayer-funded elective abortions in Texas ultimately might not do much at all.