The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
Cities, counties and rural water user groups across Texas submitted thousands of project ideas for the 2012 State Water Plan. Explore the most expensive projects regions submitted with our visualization. Full Story
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When it comes to drilling deep into Texas to bring up oil and natural gas, things can go wrong. Sometimes wells, especially old ones, leak. Full Story
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A federal appeals court will hear arguments Thursday in a lawsuit over whooping cranes that could have major implications for Texas water supplies and for natural resource planning across the United States. Full Story
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Most state lawmakers have been focusing on transportation funding these days. But several of them have their eyes on a different prize: convincing voters to support putting dollars aside for water projects. Full Story
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Texas needs more water and more power, and the two are highly dependent on each other. University of Texas energy professor Michael Webber talks with Terrence Henry of StateImpact Texas about that relationship. Full Story
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The new water bill has raised the profile of the Texas Water Development Board, which loans money for water projects and could be a powerful player in shaping water policy in the coming decades. Full Story
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The West community will receive additional federal funding to rebuild following the explosion of a fertilizer depot in April that killed 15 people and flattened much of the town, Gov. Rick Perry announced on Friday. Full Story
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In a web video titled "Future Generations," Republican agriculture commissioner candidate Eric Opiela highlights his deep ranching roots in South Texas and criticizes the White House's policies. Full Story
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As the ozone rating in San Antonio continues its slow upward march, area officials are beginning to investigate whether oil and gas drilling in the Eagle Ford Shale has anything to do with it. But their efforts are fraught with complications. Full Story
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The Edwards Aquifer is the subject of new pumping restrictions that are being announced Wednesday. San Antonio's water utility, which relies significantly on the aquifer, says that the city can avoid further restrictions of its own if it follows the authority's guidelines. Full Story
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A new study of water quality in the Barnett Shale region has found high levels of arsenic in wells that are closer to natural gas extraction sites. It's sure to fuel an already fierce debate over the impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Full Story
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Farmers who rely on the Brazos River say they are “out of water and out of luck” because the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has curtailed their use of water from the river. Full Story
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State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, on Thursday urged low-income Texans to participate in a program that provides rebates on their electric bills. The Legislature increased the discount to 82 percent this year, but the program is set to expire. Full Story
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A new report ranks Texas first out of 41 states for improvements in its electric grid. But that doesn't mean electricity prices are lower for most Texans — or that the grid doesn't face serious challenges. Full Story
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In Texas, scientists have found that small amounts of oil and gas seepage lead to subtle changes in soil and rock formations — a discovery that could prove fruitful for oil and gas companies looking for undiscovered oil fields. Full Story
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About 140 miles long, the San Saba River in Central Texas is not considered one of the state’s major waterways, but it illustrates — in a state still dealing with a serious drought — the sensitivities surrounding the use of a limited resource. Full Story
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Led by Attorney General Greg Abbott, Texas has fought the federal government for control over various issues, including environmental regulation and oversight of voting laws. Use this interactive to look at the current legal battles. Full Story
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Texas, the country's leading natural gas producer, could benefit from a federal bill that focuses on permits for pipelines. But critics of the measure say that there are environmental issues that should not be ignored. Full Story
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The Gulf Coast Water Authority, which serves most of Galveston County, could run out of water in less than 180 days, according to a state list of public water systems that have placed usage limits on municipal areas. Full Story
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In an opinion issued this week, Attorney General Greg Abbott says the state is under no legal obligation to help cover any potential shortfall faced by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Full Story
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