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February 16, 2011

ECONOTES 2011-02-16: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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