ECONOTES 2011-02-16: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- Could State Create Its Own Gas-Guzzler Tax To Fill Budget Shortfall? (David Pitman – KUHF News, 02/14/2011)
As the state battles with the EPA, one idea to help reduce the state’s budget deficit is adding a tax on vehicles that don’t meet the federal fuel economy standards. The Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report says that could raise tens of millions of dollars to help reduce pollution and to comply with federal air quality standards.
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1297718699 - Vulnerable Communities Seek Resiliency in Wake of a Degrading Gulf Coast (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality News, 02/16/2011)
The “Blue Ribbon Resilient Communities: Envisioning the Future of America’s Energy Coast†initiative is designed to help Guld Coast communities from Texas to Florida—including Galveston and Houston—prepare for resiliency against the threats of storms, coastal erosion, and disasters like the BP oil spill. It is an 18-month initiative where communities will consider coastal vulnerabilities and take necessary actions for a sustainable future.
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/news/releases/2-11WetlandsGarcia2-15 - Native Grasses Take Root (Again) in Texas (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune, 01/28/2011)
Bill Neiman, a man who became involved in the gardens business in 1973, sells seeds from plant species that are native to Texas and able to survive the extremes of weather. The native plants also use less drinking water. The available seed can help restore hundreds of acres of prairie grasses that have been farmed for generations. Currently, the San Jacinto Battleground is being reseeded using the native grasses so that it might look like it did in 1836.
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/environmental-problems-and-policies/native-grasses-take-root-again-in-texas/
EcoNotes
- 16 February
- Sand’s Down: Surfside beach renourishment nears completion (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
http://thefacts.com/news/article_73b71dfe-398e-11e0-aab0-001cc4c002e0.html
- Sand’s Down: Surfside beach renourishment nears completion (John Lowman – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
- 15 February
- Dangerous Wildfires Possible Throughout State (KBTX News)
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Dangerous_Wildfires_Possible_Throughout_State_116233354.html - Blackout hearings: Angry in Austin (Fuel Fix News)
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/02/15/blackout-hearings-angry-in-austin/ - Vulnerable Communities Seek Resiliency in Wake of a Degrading Gulf Coast (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/news/releases/2-11WetlandsGarcia2-15 - San Jacinto River Superfund Site Discussion (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000032738
- Dangerous Wildfires Possible Throughout State (KBTX News)
- 14 February
- Beautifying Buffalo Bayou (Mike Morris – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7425998.html - Could State Create Its Own Gas-Guzzler Tax To Fill Budget Shortfall? (David Pitman – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1297718699 - Government report says one million electric vehicles by 2015 is doable (ABC 13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2011/02/14/government-report-says-one-million-electric-vehicles-by-2015-is-doable/ - Power plant woes prompt changes (Tom Fowler – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7427513.html - Obama Puts Money on METRO (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1297720068 - Garza: Nuclear power needs to be in Austin’s clean energy mix (Juan Garza – The Statesman)
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/garza-nuclear-power-needs-to-be-in-austins-1253876.html
- Beautifying Buffalo Bayou (Mike Morris – Houston Chronicle)
- 12 February
- An unusual sight: a mute swan (Gary Clark – My San Antonio News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/An-unusual-sight-a-mute-swan-1009136.php - Texas may put surcharge on new vehicles with low fuel efficiency (Anna M. Tinsley – Star-Telegram)
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/12/2844513/texas-may-put-surcharge-on-new.html - Groundwater bill making waves in Texas (Andy Ross – Killeen Daily Herald)
http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=50849
- An unusual sight: a mute swan (Gary Clark – My San Antonio News)
- 11 February
- Texas EPA Official’s E-Mails Show Federal-State Tension Over Sanctions on Natural Gas Drilling (Mike Soraghan – The New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/11/11greenwire-texas-epa-officials-e-mails-show-federal-state-63373.html - Texas Wind Power Grows Along the Gulf Coast (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-energy/energy/texas-wind-power-grows-along-the-gulf-coast/ - Air Alliance Houston Holds “State of the Air” (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1297463545 - Austin clean tech incubator to spread its message (Asher Price – Statesman)
http://www.statesman.com/business/technology/austin-clean-tech-incubator-to-spread-its-message-1248771.html
- Texas EPA Official’s E-Mails Show Federal-State Tension Over Sanctions on Natural Gas Drilling (Mike Soraghan – The New York Times)
- 10 February
- GBF President Named Environmental Professional of the Year (Restore America’s Estuaries News)
http://www.estuaries.org/gbf-president-named-environmental-professional-of-the-year.html - Galveston Bay experts seek stronger water use rules (Dana Guthrie – Your Bay Area News)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_area/news/article_5caeee57-333b-525e-a97e-260a611f95ed.html - Advocates spotlight wind power’s performance during rolling blackouts (TCEQ News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=1234 - TCEQ Program Tallies Consumer Participation in Computer Recycling (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/news/releases/2-11Computerrecycling2-10 - Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Operation Set (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20110210a
- GBF President Named Environmental Professional of the Year (Restore America’s Estuaries News)
- 9 February
- TCEQ Approves Fines Totaling $778,967 (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/news/releases/2-11Agenda2-9 - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Testifies Before Congress on Greenhouse Gas Lawsuits (Attorney General of Texas)
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=3630
- TCEQ Approves Fines Totaling $778,967 (TCEQ News)
- 7 February
- Council presents plan to reduce bacteria (Hayley Kappes – The Galveston County Daily News)
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/209982
- Council presents plan to reduce bacteria (Hayley Kappes – The Galveston County Daily News)
- 5 February
- Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles Returning to Wild After Freeze (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20110205a
- Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles Returning to Wild After Freeze (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
- 28 January
- Native Grasses Take Root (Again) in Texas (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/environmental-problems-and-policies/native-grasses-take-root-again-in-texas/ - Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change (Pew Center on Global Climate Change)
http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/climate101-fullbook_0.pdf
- Native Grasses Take Root (Again) in Texas (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)