The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency next week will complete its assessment of damage from an April fertilizer plant explosion in West. As the city continues to recover, state agencies are implementing changes to further ensure safety. Full Story
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The Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator, plays a major role in Texas' energy production, which has only grown since the state's drilling boom. But how much do voters care about the commission candidates? Full Story
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Now that a lawsuit against Austin over its single-use bag ban has been dropped, other cities that were eyeing their own ordinances could be emboldened to push them through their councils — if they can avoid big political fights. Full Story
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UPDATED: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has approved the permit for construction of North Texas' Lake Ralph Hall, the first major new reservoir built in the state in decades. Full Story
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About 70 percent of Texans believe in global warming, but many are unconvinced that humans are to blame for the phenomenon, if it is happening. Full Story
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency next week will complete its assessment of damage from an April fertilizer plant explosion in West. As the city continues to recover, state agencies are implementing changes to further ensure safety. Full Story
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A diverse coalition is racing to institute a plan to increase energy and water efficiency upgrades that supporters say could help Texas improve its conservation record. Full Story
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In his first campaign video as a candidate for agriculture commissioner, Uvalde Mayor J Allen Carnes touts his farming roots and the importance of agriculture to the state. Full Story
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Becky Motal, general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority, announced Wednesday that she will retire at the end of this year. Full Story
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As the Highland Lakes that supply Austin drop to near-historic lows, the Lower Colorado River Authority is considering cutting off flows to Matagorda Bay. But officials on the Gulf Coast say the move could devastate the economy. Full Story
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Austin is among the large U.S. cities doing the most to conserve energy, according to a study released Tuesday by a national group that promotes energy efficiency. Full Story
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The renewable-energy epiphany that launched Texas wind power came through an unexpected channel: public opinion polls in the mid-1990s. An excerpt from The Great Texas Wind Rush. Full Story
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Environmental experts say the severe flooding in parched Colorado proves that just because drought-stricken states like Texas haven't seen that kind of weather in years doesn't mean it's gone for good. Full Story
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University of Texas at Austin researchers have released new estimates of methane emissions from the production of natural gas wells. The data could affect regulations on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Full Story
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A recent court ruling in Texas has fueled an already fiery debate over whether groundwater resources can be adequately protected alongside property rights and economic development. Full Story
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In 1996, then-Gov. George W. Bush shocked his Public Utility Commission chairman by endorsing wind power. A decade later, Texas would become the nation's top wind-energy producer. An excerpt from The Great Texas Wind Rush. Full Story
In energy-guzzling Texas, a group of environmental advocates and business leaders is calling a for new statewide energy building code. Full Story
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Many Texans gauge the health of the Guadalupe River by the speed of their tubing trip. Given the drought conditions plaguing most of the state, people come prepared to walk. On a broader scale, the shallow spots are indicative of the growing demand on the spring-fed water source. Full Story
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In the wake of nearly unprecedented drought, environmental advocates fear that state leaders are prioritizing thirsty cities over ecology. Our Troubled Waters series explores the history, health and future of some of the state's most important waterways. Full Story
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Texas' biggest oil and gas companies are looking to take a prime role in protecting threatened species in the state, and such participation is drawing mixed opinions among environmental advocates. Full Story
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