Houston Tightens Building Code to Boost Energy Efficiency
The Houston City Council on Wednesday approved changes to its building code requiring that new homes be more energy efficient. Full Story
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Brackish Water Abounds, but Using It Isn't Simple
There are an estimated 880 trillion gallons of brackish water underneath the state's surface. But using the salty resource can be tricky: Treating it carries a hefty price tag, and the oversight of its withdrawal isn't clear-cut. Full Story
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With Implications for Oil and Gas, Justices Weigh Underground Trespassing
The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday grappled with the concept of underground trespassing as it heard oral arguments in a groundwater case that the oil and gas industry says could significantly impact production. Full Story
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Railroad Commission to Hire Seismologist to Study Drilling-Quake Link
The Texas Railroad Commission said it would hire a seismologist to research the link between earthquakes and disposal of oil and gas waste in injection wells. Full Story
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ERCOT: Rolling Blackout Threat Averted After Cold Snap Strains Grid
As a deep chill grips much of Texas, the state's electric grid operator is asking consumers to reduce their energy use, though a brief threat of rolling blackouts has been averted. Full Story
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Credit: Justin Dehn/The Texas Tribune -
After Surprise Quakes, North Texans Discuss Impact, Concerns
After a contentious town hall meeting concerning the possible links between wastewater injection and a spate of North Texas earthquakes, locals say they cannot afford to wait for state regulators to address the issue. Full Story
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![Texas Railroad Commission lead engineering technician for districts 1 and 2, Michael Polasek, inspects a salt water disposal injection well at a Heckman Water Resources commercial disposal facility on the LAMZA lease near Highway 80, January 22, 2012.]()
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Farms Aren’t Going Away, but Many Little Ones Are
More Texans are leaving farming and ranching because of opportunities in urban areas, increased land prices and concerns about weather patterns fueled by drought. Full Story
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![Mike Skinner on Dec. 26, 2013 outside the farmhouse on the land five miles east of Spearman that he sold last spring. Three generations of his family had farmed the land.]()
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Report: EPA Followed Rules in North Texas Drilling Case
The EPA correctly followed protocol when it accused a Fort Worth-based driller of contaminating two Parker County water wells, the agency's internal watchdog says in a new report. Full Story
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Year in Review: Environment
The drought dominated environmental headlines in Texas this year, along with rising concerns about the consequences of fracking and, as always, growing disputes between Texas and the feds. Full Story
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Year in Review: Energy
Oil and gas production, pipelines, the Railroad Commission and questions about Texas’ energy grid all grabbed headlines in 2013. Full Story
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Oil Boom's Byproduct: Broken Windshields
A surge in truck traffic related to the drilling boom in parts of Texas has resulted in a smaller boom in the windshield replacement industry. Full Story
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![Eddie Posselt (right) works on a 18 Wheeler tanker truck's windshield with his employee Danilo Estaco (inside truck) on Dec. 12, 2013. Posselt moved to Carrizo Springs last year to work in the oil fields, ended up launching Windshields Etc in July. He now runs the business full time. The oil drilling boom in South Texas' Eagle Ford Shale has also led to a boom in windshield repair and replacement.]()
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North Texans Challenge Drillers Over Royalties
A growing number of North Texas mineral owners — including the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth — are suing oil and gas companies, alleging that they have been shortchanged millions of dollars in royalty payments. Full Story
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Groundwater Pumping Takes an Unexpected Toll on the Texas Gulf Coast
Unlike the rest of the state, the Texas Gulf Coast has been working for decades to reduce dependency on groundwater because pumping has caused the land to sink. Full Story
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Credit: U.S. Geological Survey -
Phil Wilson Named New LCRA General Manager
The Lower Colorado River Authority's board has tapped Phil Wilson, the Texas Department of Transportation's executive director, to be the agency's new general manager. Full Story
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Did Texas Hurt Industry by Fighting EPA Regulations?
Texas has been fighting federal greenhouse gas regulations for years over concerns that they would cost the state jobs. But now, critics say the state's unwillingness to issue air pollution permits ended up hurting, not helping, companies in Texas. Full Story
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![Steam rises from the stacks at the Martin Lake Coal-Fired Power Plant in Tatum, TX March 30, 2011.]()
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Much At Stake as LCRA Chooses a New Leader
The Lower Colorado River Authority is searching for a new leader — and whoever gets the job will be taking the reins at one of the most tumultuous times in agency's history. Full Story
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Troubled Waters: The State of Texas Rivers
Every Texas river is threatened by nearly unprecedented drought and the effects of climate change. Take a look back at our series exploring the history, health and future of some of Texas' most important and legendary rivers. Full Story
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Vast Rio Grande a Source of Numerous Legal Battles
With various levels of government in two countries making decisions that affect the Rio Grande, the 1,900-mile river has become the subject of interstate and international legal battles that have intensified during the continuing drought. Full Story
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Road Funding Allocations Surprise Some Counties, for Better or Worse
Some counties are happier than others after the Texas Department of Transportation released estimates of state aid to help fix roads damaged amid the state's oil and gas boom. Full Story
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![A natural gas drilling boom in the Eagle Ford Shale area in South Texas is straining the area's rural roads as more than 1,000 loaded trucks are needed to bring a single well into production.]()
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Oil, Gas Make Texas Big Draw for Foreign Firms
Since exploration and production of oil and gas in shale regions began surging around 2007, foreign companies have poured billions into mergers with American energy companies. Full Story
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![Chinese drilling pipe plant (TPCO America) in Gregory Texas]()
Credit: Dave Fehling / StateImpact Texas
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