ECONOTES 2011-01-05: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- Commission Lets 36 States Dump Nuclear Waste In Texas (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – The Huffington Post, 01/04/2011)
The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Commission approved rules that allow 36 states to export their low-level radioactive wast to a landfill along the Texas-New Mexico border. Environmentalists warned that the dump would pollute groundwater, but the United States has been in need of a place to put its nuclear waste. Therefore, the remote Texas landfill was approved. It will soon begin construction, despite expectations of legal challenges to the commission’s decision.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/commission-36-states-nuclear-waste-texas_n_804527.html - A “Toxic Tour” of Houston’s Eastside (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News, 01/03/2011)
Juan Parras, a community activist, gives a tour of Houston’s Eastside in hopes of educating the public about Houston’s more polluted neighborhoods. Refineries and other facilities that initiate no environmental alleviation measures, take a major toll on the neighborhoods. Conservation work takes place on the Westside of downtown, but the Eastside receives little attention.
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293761197 - Texas, Home To Big Oil, Takes Shine To Solar Power (Chris Baltimore – Planet Ark, 12/21/2010)
Solar power is starting to become more popular in Texas. Texas has not been known to be most environmentally friendly state with all of the Big Oil companies, but an emphasis on solar power could help to change that.
http://planetark.org/wen/60636
EcoNotes
- 05 January
- Texas Welcomes Nuclear Discards (Ana Campoy – The Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article - Green and near-green energy development: Will the U.S. keep up? (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/01/05/green-and-near-green-energy-development-will-the-u-s-keep-up/
- Texas Welcomes Nuclear Discards (Ana Campoy – The Wall Street Journal)
- 04 January
- HISD Wins Grant To Buy Dozens of Cleaner Propane School Buses (David Pitman – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1294177296 - Texas Files Again To Block EPA Carbon Rules In State (Jim Forsyth – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/wen/60747
- $50 Million Grant for METRORail Project (Alexander Supgul – My FOX Houston News)
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/traffic/110104-metrorail-grant
- Oil industry argues for more production (Jennifer A. Dlouhy – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7366234.html - Citizen advocates say Texas is rushing to expand radioactive waste dump (ABC 13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/01/04/citizen-advocates-say-texas-is-rushing-to-expand-radioactive-waste-dump/ - Court blocks EPA plan to take over Texas pollution permits (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7365185.html - Commission Lets 36 States Dump Nuclear Waste In Texas (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – The Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/commission-36-states-nuclear-waste-texas_n_804527.html
- HISD Wins Grant To Buy Dozens of Cleaner Propane School Buses (David Pitman – KUHF News)
- 03 January
- A “Toxic Tour” of Houston’s Eastside (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293761197 - Texas AG files another petition to stop EPA from implementing greenhouse gas regs (Alex Wukman – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/texas-ag-files-another-petition-to-stop-epa
- A “Toxic Tour” of Houston’s Eastside (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
- 31 December
- EPA’s permits threat has industry scrambling (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7361472.html - Texas presses anti-EPA case (Matthew Tresaugue – My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/article/Texas-presses-anti-EPA-case-929665.php - New Plans In The Works For The Big Thicket (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1291611342 - Land donation to put park in Pearland (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
http://thefacts.com/news/article_96f9cd7a-148b-11e0-894c-001cc4c03286.html
- More soil tests set at Danbury site (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
http://thefacts.com/your_town/north_county/article_acf3da8e-1491-11e0-bcbf-001cc4c03286.html
- EPA’s permits threat has industry scrambling (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
- 30 December
- 5th Circuit Denies Texas’ Attempt to Forestall the Implementation of the EPA’s Stationary Source Greenhouse Gas Rules (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031663 - City’s Free Weatherization Program Needs More Participants (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293748450 - Galveston breaks ground on $1.5 million enhancement to Ft. Crockett park (Alex Wukman – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/galveston-breaks-ground - Federal court rules against Texas in greenhouse gas case (Alex Wukman – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/federal-court-rules-against-texas
- 5th Circuit Denies Texas’ Attempt to Forestall the Implementation of the EPA’s Stationary Source Greenhouse Gas Rules (Guidry News)
- 29 December
- Harris County Weighs in on Beach Access (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293659199
- Harris County Weighs in on Beach Access (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
- 28 December
- No Excuses in 2011: Recycle Right (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/12/28/no-excuses-in-2011-recycle-right/ - Farmers, pecan growers say coal plant kills plants (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101228/ap_on_re_us/us_vegetative_wasteland_3 - Pecan Growers Worried About Acid Rain (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293573933 - H-GAC Announces Parks, Natural Areas Award Winners (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031636
- No Excuses in 2011: Recycle Right (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13 News)
- 27 December
- New boats give institute water research capabilities (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031613 - Checking “Green” Credentials (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293491567 - I-Plan Developed to Reduce Bacteria in Area Waterways (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031619
- New boats give institute water research capabilities (Guidry News)
- 26 December
- New LED lights may save city major money (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/news/article_406b6f6e-10bb-11e0-af93-001cc4c03286.html
- New LED lights may save city major money (The Baytown Sun)
- 24 December
- Local Food Movement Gaining Momentum in Houston (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1279320830 - U.S. Issues Timetable For Carbon Emissions Cuts (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark)
http://planetark.org/wen/60682
- Local Food Movement Gaining Momentum in Houston (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
- 23 December
- Notable green books from 2010 (ABC 13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/12/23/notable-green-books-from-2010/ - EPA will issue climate-rule permits in Texas, feds tell state officials (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=1071 - New Greenhouse Gases Rules Pit Texas Against Feds (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1293147336 - Oil Industry Loses Vs EPA On Ethanol Standard (Tom Doggett – Planet Ark)
- http://planetark.org/wen/60674
- I-Team: City of Houston shuts down two radioactive water wells (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News)
http://www.khou.com/news/investigative/I-TEAM-City-of-Houston-shuts-down-two-radioactive-water-wells-112364389.html
- Notable green books from 2010 (ABC 13 News)
- 22 December
- Saltwater Fishing Reports (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/reptform1.php?water=Salt&browse=Go - Eight graduate from Texas Forest Service leadership program (Texas Forest Service News)
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=12510 - County attorney joins fight for Texas open beaches (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031570
- Saltwater Fishing Reports (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
- 21 December
- Christmas trees will help build up beaches (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
http://thefacts.com/news/article_2e616b6a-0cac-11e0-9375-001cc4c002e0.html - U.S. Renewable Energy Tax Grants Extended For 1 Year (Sarah McBride – Planet Ark)
http://planetark.org/wen/60643 - U.S. Automakers Sue EPA Over Higher Ethanol Blends (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark)
http://planetark.org/wen/60639 - Texas, Home To Big Oil, Takes Shine To Solar Power (Chris Baltimore – Planet Ark)
http://planetark.org/wen/60636 - Senators To EPA: Set Chromium 6 Standard (Noaki Schwartz – Click2Houston)
http://www.click2houston.com/green-pages/26212377/detail.html
- Christmas trees will help build up beaches (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
- 20 December
- Metro cancels disputed contract, wins $50 million from FTA (Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/metro-cancels-disputed-contract-wins-50-million - Rick Perry’s nuclear money machine (Wayne Slater – Trail Blazers)
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/12/rick-perrys-nuclear-money-mach.html - Texas Forest Service issues safety tips for holiday season (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031539
- Metro cancels disputed contract, wins $50 million from FTA (Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
- 19 December
- Why 2011 Will Be a Strong Year for Energy and Infrastructure (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/242593-why-2011-will-be-a-strong-year-for-energy-and-infrastructure?source=yahoo - Report highlights possible future H2O shortage (The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
http://thefacts.com/your_town/angleton_cc/article_9643e87e-0b09-11e0-93f5-001cc4c002e0.html
- Why 2011 Will Be a Strong Year for Energy and Infrastructure (Seeking Alpha)
- 17 December
- Texas Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration Hits New Milestone (Texas Parks and Wildlife)
http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20101217a - For Rick Perry, EPA Is Useful Villain (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/environmental-problems - A green holiday gift for solar, wind and geothermal producers (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/12/17/a-green-holiday-gift-for-solar-wind-and-geothermal-producers/ - Stately hawks increasing in numbers (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7344552.html - Christmas Tree, ‘O Christmas Tree How Easy to Recycle Are Thee! (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000031496 - Baytown’s Eddie Huron Park improvements under way (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/communities/article_6e339e4a-0999-11e0-874e-001cc4c03286.html
- Texas Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration Hits New Milestone (Texas Parks and Wildlife)
- 16 December
- Climate Change Affects Toads, Salamanders: Study (Maggie Fox – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/wen/60592
- TCEQ gets an earful from public (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7341461.html
- Climate Change Affects Toads, Salamanders: Study (Maggie Fox – Planet Ark News)
- 15 December
- Up on the rooftop click, click, click — vanquished by global warming, lickety split (ABC 13)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/12/15/up-on-the-rooftop-click-click-click - Disastrous wildfires could sweep across the Southern Plains this winter (Cherokeean Herald)
http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2010-12-15/Area_Interest - Texas farms brace for yet another drought (Betsy Blaney – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7340814.html - Suit demands Exxon Mobil reduce emissions at Baytown refinery (Matthew Tresaugue – My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Suit-demands-Exxon-Mobil-reduce-emissions-at-882399.php
- Up on the rooftop click, click, click — vanquished by global warming, lickety split (ABC 13)
- 14 December
- Sunset hearing could cast shadow over TCEQ (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7339666.html - Recycling, conserving gas and electricity can reduce waste of water? (Houston Green Living Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-houston/recycling-conserving-gas-and-electricity-can-reduce-waste-of-water - Migratory Bird Report No. 16 (Texas Parks and Wildlife)
http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20101215a - Aqua America buys Houston-area water systems (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2010/12/14/aqua-america-buys-houston-area-water.html
- Sunset hearing could cast shadow over TCEQ (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
- 7 December
- Jersey deal promises green future (Jonathan Yardley – Houston Dynamo News)
http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2010/12/jersey-deal-promises-green-future
- Jersey deal promises green future (Jonathan Yardley – Houston Dynamo News)
- 5 December
- Is power plant to blame for poor pecan crop? (Asher Price – American Statesman)
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/is-power-plant-to-blame-for-poor-pecan-1101578.html
- Is power plant to blame for poor pecan crop? (Asher Price – American Statesman)