The latest energy news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas regulators are issuing permits to discharge large volumes of treated “produced water” into some waterways. Questions remain about the toxic pollutants found in the wastewater. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/db85503ba52eeedc648bca3c3299f510/0527%20ICN%20Produced%20Water%20Discharge%20JH%2006.JPG)
The rules will require coal-fueled plants, including Texas plants that produced about 12% of power on the state’s grid this year, to reduce carbon emissions and mercury pollution and handle disposed coal ash more safely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0e00f849f688cd835de3972b784a2b65/15%20Peeler%20Ranch%20San%20Miguel%20Coop%20Coal%20Ash%20MG.jpg)
Panelists discussed how the industry has changed Midland and Odessa and how to confront environmental concerns. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/59454c51d33fd77a58b026663fbb9f40/05-08_TexasOil-Lead-Title-01-v1.png)
As legal efforts fall short, Rio Grande Valley residents are pursuing a novel strategy to halt export terminals on wetlands: Lobby Europeans to reject gas from the U.S. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3564fd2f0ba9f84231fc4035c5a51472/Brownsville%20LNG%20CM%20AC%2003.jpg)
A high-tech chemical company has purchased the last available water in the Nueces River to make hydrogen and ammonia for export. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e331e2212c4c0e4074eb6a687e8b5dd/Port%20of%20Corpus%20Christi%20ES%20TT%2007.jpg)
In testimony to state lawmakers, Dale Jenkins and his Panhandle peers shared the “hidden cost” of the wildfires. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/04f1f04c0f6461a06c054fe042091eb4/0403%20Dale%20Jenkins%20MC%2034.jpg)
Thursday’s hearing marked the end of the Legislature’s three-day marathon of public hearings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ceeb2a08bff9651c4e4d7a67d09d61d8/0404%20Thursday%20Panhandle%20Wildfires%20Hearings%20MC%2009.jpg)
The wind industry promises attractive salaries. But a lack of training programs and waning political support make it difficult to find new recruits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc6b4df8bf77baa41356a149c24d478d/0306%20Permian%20Workforce%20EH%20TT%2025.jpg)
The Texas A&M Forest Service concluded that a fallen decayed utility pole caused the Smokehouse Creek fire. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25916984921e48e0734bd0bec6be06bd/0402%20Tuesday%20Panhandle%20Wildfires%20Hearings%20MC%2002.jpg)
A nuclear power plant hasn’t been built in Texas in decades because of cost and public fears of a major accident. Now the governor wants to find out if smaller reactors could meet the state’s growing need for on-demand power. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/489a3dcafeab12b4326414e893d1f313/0311%20Nuclear%20Blue%20Glow%20EH%20TT%20redo%2006.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff756c4489f46aa365ba3f2405392bd5/0322%20Renewable%20Energy%20VC%20TT%2024.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1ec69935b1e3cf245fb632e2dae547b2/0905%20Hydrogen%20Spindletop%20MF%20TT%2006.jpg)
A series of deadly wildfires have burned for nearly three weeks, destroying farms and ranches in several counties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2aaf37581aea2f77de2e929a64064482/0303%20Panhandle%20Canadian%20JR%2003.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ca2186c06dadaf5ec44bc67891bbdc17/Plastics%20ICN%20DB%20TT%2001.jpg)
Los datos públicos de una red de monitores de la calidad del aire alrededor del Canal de Navegación de Houston son difíciles de interpretar y a menudo son insuficientes, dejando a vecindarios de mayoría latina, como Cloverleaf, sin saber si el aire que respiran es seguro. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bd14775e82d6fded529537d3e88e33a2/2%20-%201028%20Bike%20Ride%20EV%20GN%2027.JPG)
Public data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6508a43dac4976f4ef54160975ef653/1%20-%201210%20Cloverleaf%20Family%20DV%2005.JPG)
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has grown to be the largest in state history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/649db2068637b4d5cb3c2ca364cd2c49/0228%20Smokehouse%20Creek%20Firefighters%20REUTERS.jpg)
The full scope of damage still isn’t known, but some Panhandle residents have returned home. Firefighters continue battling the infernos. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d15daed6c1e9d8bab020d087d04acfad/0303%20Panhandle%20Canadian%20JR%20TT%2009.jpg)
As officials try to determine a cause for the wildfires, a Canadian homeowner filed a lawsuit blaming an energy company for the destruction. And more are expected. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/95de6cd4bc2f4391fd29f90013826452/0301%20Panhandle%20Fire%20Abbott%20JR%2002.jpg)
The Texas Railroad Commission is tasked with plugging wells. But the state regulators say their scope is limited. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f60a5f300520c602c6f1c2be2fa1bfa3/0224%20Produced%20Water%20SV%2013.jpg)