Environment Texas Blog

Check out our blog for the latest in the fight to protect Texas’ environment.

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By Jmccall - 2010-02-04

Clean Energy Advocate McCall Johnson interviews businessman Farouk Shami, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Listen to the podcast: http://www.vimeo.com/9183403 We discuss his desire to beautify Texas, his line of environmentally sensitive haircare products and his plan to convert the Governor’s mansion in to a solar powered orphanage.

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By luke - 2010-02-08

In this episode, we visit with former Houston Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Bill White. Mayor White discusses his plans to promote solar power, expanding transportation options for Texas, and his thoughts on Governor Perry.

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By gwitthuhn - 2010-02-04

The EPA's new region 6 administrator, Al Armendariz, was sworn in this week. With Al at the reins, things are looking up for Texas.

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By alejandro - 2009-12-21

Be Green for the Holidays! Want to save money and help the environment this winter? Here are some ideas for “greening” your holiday. Written by Savanah Ritter, Rice University student and Environment Texas Houston intern.

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By luke - 2009-11-20

Yesterday, House Speaker Joe Straus released the "interim charges" for the House of Representatives. These are directives to the House committees to study various issues and make recommendations in preparation for the next session (which starts in January 2011). Notably, the House State Affairs committee (considered one of the most important committees in the legislature) will devote 75% of its time looking an energy and environmental issues (the other 25% will look at undocumented immigrants).

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By luke - 2009-11-18

If 10% of the program was dedicated to solar, we could develop more than 500 megawatts of rooftop solar by 2015, according to an analysis by Vote Solar. That would propel Texas to be one of the top states in the country for solar (currently we're tied with Wisconsin for a pathetic 9th place in solar). It would also meet or even exceed the solar goals laid out in SB 545, the main solar bill of last session which died in the waning hours of the session. This kind of investment in solar would mean cleaner air and help attract solar companies to the state - companies like SunTech, which announced this week that they're building their new manufacturing facility in Arizona instead of Texas, due to the Lone Star State's lack of support for our lone star the sun.

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By alejandro - 2009-11-17

Joe Berlinger’s new documentary Crude follows the so-called “David and Goliath” case in which a group of Ecuadoreans, mainly Cofan natives, filed a class-action lawsuit against Texaco (which has since merged with Chevron) for its contamination of the region through poor production methods.

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By luke - 2009-10-26

In this episode, we visit with Jerry Patterson, who was elected the Texas Land Commissioner in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. We discuss Gulf Coast restoration, the Christmas Mountains, and why he carries a gun.

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By luke - 2009-10-27

Texans currently have an opportunity to vote on Proposition 9, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish the public's unrestricted right to access beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Early voting continues until Friday; election day is on Tuesday, November 3. In today’s podcast, we visit with former Senator A.R. "Babe" Schwartz who, in 1959, worked with Senator Bob Eckhardt to help pass the Open Beaches Act. Senator Schwartz spent over 20 years in the legislature, and is currently an attorney, consultant and professor of Coastal Law at the University of Texas. He has won numerous awards for his advocacy to protect Texas’ Coast.

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By luke - 2009-10-21

Perhaps its no surprise, but Texas comes in a lousy 34th place for per capita spending on public transportation, according to a new report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (see our press release here). The report finds that the state of Texas spent a chintzy $1.23 per Texan on public transportation in FY 2006 (compared to #1 Massachusetts, which spent $189 per person - money well spent, if you've ever ridden the 'T")

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By luke - 2009-09-29

The big boom in gas drilling in the Fort Worth area in the "Barnett Shale" comes with some very serious environmental problems. One of them is an oil and gas technique called hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of fluids into oil or gas wells at very high pressure in order to crack open the underground formation and allow oil or gas to flow out more easily. These fluids often contain toxic chemicals. Environment Texas recently joined with 160 groups from around the nation calling on Congress to help protect our drinking water by better regulating this practice.

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By luke - 2009-09-28

In this podcast, we speak with Barry Smitherman, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Chairman Smitherman was appointed to the PUC by Governor Perry in 2004. In the interview, Environment Texas' McCall Johnson speaks to him about the growth of wind power in Texas, his opposition to the federal climate bill and how Jesus would run the PUC.

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By luke - 2009-09-11

Local artists/activists Melissa Reese and Danny Deloach put together this great video detailing the serious harm caused by the Fayette coal-fired power plant, co-owned by Austin Energy and LCRA. Watch the video, then sign our petition to Austin City Council asking them to shut down or sell Austin's stake in the plant.

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By luke - 2009-09-03

This week's podcast features an interview with state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin. Sen. Watson is the Senate's strongest advocate for renewable energy and earned a 100% rating from Environment Texas for his votes in the 2009 legislative session.

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By luke - 2009-09-01 - 1 Replies

Today, Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger joined with other environmental and public health leaders to call on the city of Austin to "quit coal" and invest in wind and solar power instead. Here is the statement he delivered at the City Hall press conference.

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By luke - 2009-07-20

AUSTIN – Today, Environment Texas launched a new podcast series, “A Minute for the Environment”, that will explore the hot environmental issues facing Texas by speaking with the people directly influencing policy in the state. The series will interview a diverse group of leading minds impacting the future of Texas’ environment, from politicians and corporate executives to groundbreaking scientists and environmental activists.

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By luke - 2009-07-27

You already know -- it's hot and dry outside. It's so dry that central Texas is suffering from one of the worst droughts in history. Water levels at Lake Travis and spring flows to Barton Springs have fallen to alarming levels. And swimming in the greenbelt hasn't been possible in a really long time -- my toddler has yet to experience the joy of Campbell's Hole or Twin Falls on Barton Creek.

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By luke - 2009-07-13

Environment Texas needs your help. We've got just a small staff to take on the whole state of Texas and need the assistance of volunteers. Here are some of the ways you could help: * Set up an information table at farmers markets or other events * Help around the office with data entry, filing, etc. * Help with graphic design, writing or editing * Research * Outreach to community groups * Help produce our new podcast * Web development * Event planning

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By luke - 2009-07-08

"'There's a point in time where hope and history rhyme.' I think we have now reached that [point] on the issue of energy and global warming." [1] -- Congressman Ed Markey, quoting the poet Seamus Heaney, upon passage of the Waxman-Markey bill 11 days ago If you're like many of our members, you're probably wondering if Congressman Ed Markey is right. Does the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, deliver the transformative change that President Obama promised during the election?

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By luke - 2009-07-07

Last week, President Obama and Energy Secretary Chu announced "major changes to energy conservation standards for numerous household and commercial lamps and lighting equipment". The President stated, "Now, I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and our businesses."

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By heather - 2009-06-16

Environment Texas' Ayleen Perez Marty is in Washington, D.C., this week to visit with the Texas Congressional delegation in support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

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By luke - 2009-06-12

This morning on Morning Edition, NPR Host Steve Inskeep interviewed Michael Pollan, author of the Omnivore's Dilemma, and Robert Kenner, director of Food, Inc., a new film which "lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA". Your can listen to the NPR interview here.

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By luke - 2009-06-03

An update on how Texas parks fared in the 81st Legislature from George L. Bristol, President of the Texas Coalition for Conservation: The 81st session of the Texas Legislature is over. While there may be a special session, parks and conservation issues will not be on the agenda as all the major bills affecting them passed.

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By luke - 2009-05-19

On May 15, 2009, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), comprehensive energy legislation. This document summarizes key parts of the bill, including energy efficiency standards, the renewable electricity standard, global warming pollution reduction requirements, and the distribution and use of pollution allowances under the bill.

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By luke - 2009-05-20

The House State Affairs committee approved SB 541 today on a vote of 9-5. SB 541 (Kirk Watson) requires the development of 1500 megawatts of solar, geothermal and biomass by 2020. Rep. David Farabee is carrying the bill on the House. Here's how the vote broke down:

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By luke - 2009-05-27

You may have read that many bills died last night as a result of the "voter-id" slowdown in the Texas House of Representatives. Despite the fact that many clean energy bills were placed on the Major State Calendar (the priority bills that get taken up first), the House hadn't yet debated them by midnight, thus killing them. But all is not lost yet. The Senate still has until midnight tonight to approve bills that have already been approved by the House (before the voter id showdown). These bills can be amended to include some of our priorities.

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By luke - 2009-05-12

ERCOT has issued a new analysis claiming that federal climate legislation will increase electricity costs dramatically. This is a very, very narrow analysis.

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By luke - 2009-05-09

On Monday, the Texas House will decide whether to promote solar energy by requiring utilities to pay consumers fair prices for surplus solar power or to codify anti-consumer practices in order to benefit big utilities like TXU. Here's the story.

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By luke - 2009-05-11

On Friday, San Antonio Mayor Hardberger and council members Galvan, Cortez, Rodriguez, Ramos sent a letter to Congressman Charlie Gonzalez urging him to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

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By luke - 2009-05-05

Two of our priority bills promoting renewable energy are on the move at the Texas Capitol. The first, SB 545 by Sen. Troy Fraser, has passed the Texas Senate and will soon be heard in committee in the House. The second, SB 541 by Sen. Kirk Watson, has passed the Senate Business and Commerce committee and will soon be heard on the Senate floor.

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