Texas Town Goes All In on Renewable Energy
Georgetown’s municipal utility has unveiled plans to tap wind and solar energy to meet all of its customers’ power needs, making it the first Texas city-owned utility to abandon fossil fuels. Full Story
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Credit: Mike Baker -
Denton Fracking Ban Tees Up Local Control Fight
Plenty of lawmakers are siding with the oil industry in response to Denton's vote to ban fracking inside city limits. What's surprising this session is how few are weighing in for local control. Full Story
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Credit: Mark Graham -
Private Sector Has Hand in State Water Planning
An infusion of $2 billion into Texas' state water plan — once a little-known wish list of water projects — has highlighted the role of private engineering and consulting firms, which play a big role in writing it. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Isaac Jumping Into Hays County Water Fight
With a four-bill cocktail, state Rep. Jason Isaac hopes to stop, or at last slow, a Houston-based company's plans to pump huge amounts of water from beneath Hays County. Full Story
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![Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the House floor, February 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Budgetline: A TribCast Series on the Texas Budget
In the first episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Ross and Aman start where state officials started — with the revenue estimate. It sounds simple, but it's a complicated stew of economics, politics and risky forecasting. Full Story
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Video: The Battle Over Groundwater
At our 3/10 symposium on water, Neena Satija talked about the politics of groundwater with state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, Billy Howe of the Texas Farm Bureau, Kyle Frazier of the Texas Desalination Association and Dianne Wassenich of the San Marcos River Foundation. Full Story
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New in Trib+Water: When Clean Water is Lacking
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: A new series on communities lacking clean water, a new study links climate change to drought and an interview with Cameron Turner of the Agricultural Water Conservation Programs at the Texas Water Development Board. Full Story
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Video: Life After Proposition 6
At our 3/10 symposium on water, I talked about life after Proposition 6 with Chairman Jim Keffer of the House Natural Resources Committee, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller; and Chairman Carlos Rubinstein of the Texas Water Development Board. Full Story
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Endangered Species Expert Heads to Comptroller's Office
A high-profile new employee in the Texas comptroller's office won't focus on revenue estimates or tax collection. Robert Gulley will, however, be looking at monarch butterfly migration patterns and the decline of freshwater mussels. Full Story
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![Dr. Robert Gulley is the new director of economic growth and endangered species management at the comptroller's office.]()
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Texas Officials Take Aim at Crude Oil Export Ban
With prices stumbling and crude oil backing up in refineries and tank farms across the state, Texas lawmakers are raising a cry for repeal of the 40-year-old ban on most crude oil exports. Full Story
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Credit: Louis Vest for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislative Guide: Environment
Use our Texas Legislative Guide to stay updated on the issues that lawmakers are debating this legislative session. This week, our featured section is Environment. Full Story
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T-Squared: An In-Depth Series on Undrinkable Water
Today we launch Undrinkable — a crucial reporting project that exposes the malfeasance, red tape, environmental woes and cultural barriers that stand in the way of getting clean, safe water to Texans in need. Full Story
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Houston Dry Cleaner at Center of Pollution Enforcement Debate
A dry cleaner tucked in one of Houston's most expensive neighborhoods has become the epicenter of a contentious debate over the enforcement of Texas' environmental laws. Full Story
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![Trey Melcher in front of his family's shopping center, where River Oaks Cleaners is a tenant. The Melchers feel they've been unfairly targeted by Harris County in an environmental lawsuit that seeks up to $173 million.]()
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Perry, Cruz to Face Questions in Iowa Over Fuel Standard Opposition
When they attend the Iowa Ag Summit on Saturday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry will almost certainly be asked about their criticism of the Renewable Fuel Standard, an issue that packs a political punch in the Hawkeye State. Full Story
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The Brief: March 3, 2015
In a House committee hearing on Monday, one witness sought to redefine the climate change debate as one with clear implications to national security. Full Story
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Former Land Commissioner Bob Armstrong Dies at 82
Bob Armstrong died Sunday night at age 82. He served as land commissioner for 12 years, and later at the U.S. Department of the Interior. "He was a lover of Texas," says one of his successors. Full Story
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![Three former Texas land commissioners — (l-r) Jerry Patterson, Bob Armstrong and Garry Mauro — at the swearing-in ceremony of Land Commissioner George P. Bush on Jan. 2, 2015. Armstrong, 82, died March 1, 2015.]()
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At Hearing, Climate Change Called a "Threat Multiplier"
A Democratic state lawmaker on Monday kicked off efforts to force a discussion about climate change in Texas, but he faces an uphill battle in a state where most Republican leaders don't believe it is a problem. Full Story
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![Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, during a Texas Tribune event on Feb. 21, 2013.]()
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New in Trib+Water: Pumping and Its Consequences
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: More on the Hays County water wars, aquifer pumping's effect on recreational spots and an interview with Clint Wolfe of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 25, 2015
Texans in this month's University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll made clear that the property tax is their least favorite. The only other tax to be disliked by voters more than it is liked is the business margins tax. Full Story
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Despite Low Prices, Texas Oil Group Stays Optimistic
Texas’ oil and gas industry is touting its record-breaking 2014 contributions to state and local government coffers, an effort to stay positive amid 2015's far gloomier revenue outlook. Full Story
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Credit: Esteban Monclova for The Texas Tribune