Real Results For Texas' Environment
Top Ten Accomplishments
1. State parks funding tripled
In 2007, we helped convince the Legislature to increase funding for local and state parks by $182 million over two years. The funds will allows the pars department to rehire laid off park rangers, repair decaying facilities and purchase sensitive land to create a new state park.
2. Clean energy thriving
In 2006, Texas surpassed California as the national leader in wind energy. This progress was made possible by a 2005 victory when we helped convince Texas leaders to double our investment in clean, renewable energy.
3. Barton Springs funded
In November 2006, we won voter approval of Austin Proposition 2, which will dedicate $50 million to purchase and preserve threatened land in the Barton Springs watershed.
4. Neches Wildlife Refuge created
In June 2006, we helped convince the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, protecting one of Texas' last wild rivers, the surrounding forests, and habitat for wildlife like bobcats, river otters, and the threatened American Alligator.
5. National forests defended
We helped win sweeping protections for 58.5 million acres of national forests, including 4,000 acres in the Sam Houston National Forest. Though the Bush administration tried to repeal the measure, a judge ordered the rollback and re-instated protections in 2006.
6. Diesel Truck And Bus Pollution Cut
In 2004, thanks in part to Environment Texas staff, the EPA issued tough rules to reduce pollution from dirty, diesel-powered farm and construction equipment.
7. Protecting the Gulf
In 2006, Environment Texas helped strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act, to help protect the Gulf from destructive overfishing and trawling.
8. Stopping coal power
In February 2007, after a considerable public outcry, TXU dropped plans to build 8 coal fired power plants. Unfortunately, the utility is still pursuing three additional dirty plants.
9. Training Student Leaders
Environment Texas has trained hundreds of students in the skills of environmental organizing.
10. Right-To-Know Rules
The EPA required thousands of industrial facilities to begin disclosing previously unreported discharges of the worst toxic chemicals, including mercury, lead and dioxin, thanks to advocacy by Environment Texas and its allies.
