1. Parks funding tripled
In 2007, thanks in part to the efforts of Environment Texas, the Legislature voted to triple parks funding, adding $180 million over the next two years.

2. Christmas Mountains saved
The Christmas Mountains will remain open to the public after Texas’ School Land Board voted to reject the sale of the mountains to private investors. We helped make the case by generating news stories and more than 10,000 petition signatures. In 2008, the Austin Chronicle presented Environment Texas with a “Best of Austin” award for our work.

3. Clean energy thriving
Last summer, the Public Utilities Commission of Texas approved an Environment Texas-backed plan to build enough power lines to transmit more than 18,000 megawatts of wind power to Texas cities. That’s enough electricity to power 4.5 million homes.

4. Barton Springs funded
In November 2006, Austin voters approved $50 million to protect land in the Barton Springs watershed. Environment Texas contacted 20,000 voters before the vote to ensure its passage.

5. Gulf habitat preserved
In 2006, Environment Texas worked to strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act, to help protect marine habitat in the Gulf from destructive overfishing and trawling.

6. National forests defended
More than 4,000 acres in the Sam Houston National Forest remain untouched. When President Bush moved to open these forests to logging, our advocates and activists raised their voices in protest. The fight continues: We’re demanding permanent protection.

7. Coal-burning power plants stopped
In 2007, Environment Texas and our allies in the Alliance for a Clean Texas helped stop plans to build eight new coal-burning power plants.

8. Neches Wildlife Refuge created
In June 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the establishment of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge on a beautiful stretch of the Upper Neches River in northeast Texas, thanks to the work of Environment Texas and our allies.

9. Support for solar growing
In April 2008, we helped organized the Texas Solar Forum, the largest-ever gathering in Texas of solar industry representatives and advocates. And over the summer, our staff collected more than 7,000 petitions, urging Gov. Rick Perry to make solar power a centerpiece of Texas’ energy future.

10. Energy efficiency measures expanded
In November 2008, the Austin City Council approved an Environment Texas-backed ordinance requiring all apartment complexes and commercial properties to undergo an energy audit.