energy

Senate OKs "Reptile Bill"

By Becca Aaronson May 24, 2011

The Senate passed the "reptile bill" today, which creates regulations for hunters who want to collect snakes and horny toads along Texas highways. Full Story
Texas Files Challenge to EPA "Endangerment Finding"

By Kate Galbraith May 23, 2011

Acting on behalf of 14 other states, the state of Texas today filed an opening brief in its case seeking to overturn a finding by the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich/Todd Wiseman
Questions Over Fracking Linger as Bill Awaits Senate Action

By Mose Buchele, KUT News May 23, 2011

A bill that would compel energy companies to reveal some chemicals they use to extract natural gas is awaiting movement in the Texas Senate. But as Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, there are still plenty of unanswered questions when it comes to the drilling process, known as fracking. Full Story

Credit: Creative Commons/Daniel Foster
There's More Than One Way to Land a Catfish

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez May 20, 2011

Hand fishing — that is, sticking your hand down the throat of a fish — is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. But not for long. State lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill to legalize hand fishing, sending it to the governor. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Senate OKs Legalizing "Noodling"

By Becca Aaronson May 19, 2011

Amid the budget drama of the day, senators had a few moments of levity when they brought up the "noodling" bill, which would legalize the practice of hand-fishing for catfish. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Texas Smart-Grid Experts Head to the White House

By Kate Galbraith May 19, 2011

On Friday morning, a small group of Texans, including the chairman of the Public Utility Commission, will brief White House representatives on the smart-meter rollout and related issues in the state. Full Story

Credit: Oncor
Drought Gripping State Shows No Sign of Easing

By Kate Galbraith May 18, 2011

The Lower Colorado River Authority, a major supplier of water for Central Texas, warned today that the drought gripping the state is likely to continue for months and urged its customers to conserve water. Full Story

Credit: LCRA
With Vote, Texas Moves Closer to Expanded Nuclear Waste Dump

By Kate Galbraith and Jay Root May 17, 2011

The House gave preliminary approval today to a bill that will give more flexibility to an operator at a planned West Texas disposal site for low-level radioactive waste. An effort to curb the company's potential profits failed. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Dallas Billionaire Nears Nuclear Waste Dump Win

By Kate Galbraith and Jay Root May 17, 2011

Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons could get a little richer if state lawmakers hand him what he wants today: a bill expanding the right of his company to accept low-level radioactive waste from several states — and the power to set the rates it charges them. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Drilling Down on Fracking in Texas

By Mose Buchele, KUT News May 16, 2011

A team of University of Texas researchers is about to study the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the drilling technique that has environmental groups worried. Mose Buchele of KUT News talked with the man leading the study of one of the most controversial methods of harvesting energy in the world. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey May 14, 2011

Aaronson on pork choppers, Aguilar on sanctuary cities legislation, Galbraith on Brownsville's ban on plastic bags, Grissom on Delma Banks and prosecutorial misconduct, Hamilton on a tough week for higher education in Texas, Philpott on wildfires and politics, Ramshaw on the state's pursuit of a federal Medicaid overhaul, M. Smith on what would happen if lawmakers don't rewrite school finance formulas, yours truly on the Lege as schoolyard and Stiles with interactive graphics on how the proposed Senate redistricting maps compare with current ones: The best of our best content from May 9 to 13, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Staples on the 2014 Lite Guv Race

By Evan Smith May 12, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples talked about his plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2014 — and offered his assessment of the other likely candidates in the race, Comptroller Susan Combs and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. Full Story
Senate Discusses Fracking Disclosure Bill

By Kate Galbraith May 12, 2011

A Senate committee heard testimony this morning from Halliburton and others on a bill that would require drilling companies to disclose the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing. The bill has been left pending until the House takes a final vote on its version. Full Story

Credit: Creative Commons/Daniel Foster
Lawmakers' Actions Will Raise Utility Rates, Consumer Groups Say

By Kate Galbraith May 12, 2011

Several bills working their way through the legislative process are likely to send Texans' utility bills up, consumer advocates say. But legislation that would make it easier for ratepayers to decide how to choose their electricity provider appears to be stalled. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Fracking Bill Could Set National Standard

By Mose Buchele, KUT News May 12, 2011

The House appears set to pass a bill that would compel companies to disclose substances they use in fracking, a process used to harvest natural gas. As Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, the bill could bring Texas a step closer to determining fracking’s environmental impact. Full Story
House Tentatively Approves Fracking Disclosure Bill

By Kate Galbraith May 11, 2011

The Texas House gave tentative approval to a bill on Wednesday that would require gas companies to publicly disclose the chemicals they use in the controversial drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Seal
Brownsville Debates the Merits of Plastic Bag Ban

By Kate Galbraith May 9, 2011

At stores in Brownsville, customers must pay $1 for plastic bags — so many bring their own, or go without. The policy, which also restricts paper bags, has removed hundreds of thousands of bags daily — but not without controversy. Full Story

Credit: Delcia Lopez
Cornyn, Perry Blast Feds Over Wildfires

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez May 4, 2011

Sen. John Cornyn vowed to "raise Cain" if the federal government's decision not to give Texas extra financial assistance for battling the wildfires hinged on politics. But the feds say that Texas is already getting help. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
House Bill Sets Up Railroad Commission Fight

By Brandi Grissom and Julián Aguilar May 2, 2011

Members of the Texas Railroad Commission would be allowed to meet behind closed doors to discuss the details of disputed cases under a bill tentatively approved by the Texas House on Monday. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Jeramey Jannene/Paul Lowry/Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey April 30, 2011

Aguilar and Weber on a subdued debate over homeland security, Galbraith on rising concern about natural gas drilling, Grissom on a controversial psychologist, Hamilton on the aftermath of the Rick O'Donnell episode, Philpott on the comptroller's apology, Ramshaw with more on the statewide database of child abusers, E. Smith interviews Lance Armstrong, M. Smith on what House budget cuts would mean for school districts, M. Stiles on how redistricting would change things for each House member, Tan on the Senate's wobbly attempts to approve a budget and my interview with David Dewhurst: The best of our best content from April 25 to 29, 2011. Full Story