ECONOTES 2011-06-15: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- Giant Inconvenience: Salvinia (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle, 06/09/2011)
Salvinia is a fast-growing, easily spread invasive aquatic plant that can smother life in freshwater ecosystems. Lake Raven in Hunstville State Park is one of the last Texas areas to battle the Salvinia. On Saturday, a handful of volunteers helped to remove the floating vegetation from the lake.
http://www.chron.com/ - Some Texas lawmakers say light bulb bill is bright idea (Anna M. Tinsley – Star-Telegram, 06/12/2011)
State lawmakers passed a bill that has allowed them to avoid the national effort to promote more efficient light bulbs. The bill claimed that compact fluorescent light bulbs don’t work as promised and are more expensive. The Natural Resources Defense Council, a New York-based environmental group, is pressuring Perry to veto the bill.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011 - Weather helps push region’s smog level back out of compliance (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 06/10/2011)
The hot, stagnant weather has pushed Houston above the federal limits for ozone or smog for the first time in three years. Houston was once the nation’s smog capital, but has taken many steps toward cleaner air since. Officials said that them above 90 degree temperatures and the lack of wind created the perfect conditions for the formation of ozone.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story
EcoNotes
- 15 June
- Wind industry hopes new ‘WindMade’ label will propel clean energy use (Barbara Kessler – ABC13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk
- Wind industry hopes new ‘WindMade’ label will propel clean energy use (Barbara Kessler – ABC13 News)
- 14 June
- GE adds a cool new feature to its refrigerator water filters: recycling (ABC13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk - ExxonMobil, TCEQ investigating leak (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/communities - America Fast Forward could speed Houston rail system (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Katy-area church wants to go green (Rina Chandarana – Ultimate Katy News)
http://www.ultimatekaty.com/stories - Many Houston boomers will face poor mobility options (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org - Major flooding on the Mississippi River likely to cause large Gulf of Mexico dead zone (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx
- GE adds a cool new feature to its refrigerator water filters: recycling (ABC13 News)
- 13 June
- The most chemically contaminated produce (ABC13 News)
http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk - Helping Senior Citizens Prepare for Hurricanes (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles - Power plant in Matagorda Co. gains in water fight (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7609102.html - Worst Drought in More Than a Century Strikes Texas Oil Boom (Joe Carroll – Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news - Help the thirsty trees in your area, Trees for Houston pleads (Bellaire Examiner)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire
- The most chemically contaminated produce (ABC13 News)
- 12 June
- Harris County Transit wins recognition (Kathryn Edwards – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/harris-county - Some Texas lawmakers say light bulb bill is bright idea (Anna M. Tinsley – Star-Telegram)
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011
- Harris County Transit wins recognition (Kathryn Edwards – Houston Tomorrow)
- 11 June
- Drought may prompt ban on fireworks (Ben Tinsley – The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/communities/ - Gov. Perry Again Renews State Disaster Proclamation Due to Ongoing Wildfire Threat (Office of the Governor)
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/
- Drought may prompt ban on fireworks (Ben Tinsley – The Baytown Sun)
- 10 June
- New proposal for Galveston-Houston Mobility Corridor (Kathryn Edwards – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Drought yet to affect Baytown’s water supply (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/communities/ - Weather helps push region’s smog level back out of compliance (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story
- New proposal for Galveston-Houston Mobility Corridor (Kathryn Edwards – Houston Tomorrow)
- 9 June
- Giant Inconvenience: Salvinia (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Environmental Groups Challenge Shell Drilling Plan (Andrew Schneider – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles - A Little Water Goes a Long Way (Pat Hernandez – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles - Record Number of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Nests for a Single Day (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx - Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute Receives Gulf Guardian Award (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa - Jim Morrison of Freeport, Texas Receives Gulf Guardian Award (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa - As Drought Intensifies, Wildscaping Can Help Texans Save Water (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/
- Giant Inconvenience: Salvinia (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle)
- 8 June
- Judge Says Suit Against ExxonMobil Over Baytown Pollution May Proceed (David Pitman – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles - Mayor Admits Drainage Fee Estimates Were Wrong (Bill Stamps – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/ - Post-session, some environmentalists feel they dodged legislative bullet (Asher Price – The Statesman)
http://www.statesman.com/news - Better Off Ten Years After Tropical Storm Allison (Pat Hernandez – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/articles - Texas Senator Against Sand Dune Lizard to the Endangered Species List
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx
- Judge Says Suit Against ExxonMobil Over Baytown Pollution May Proceed (David Pitman – KUHF News)
- 6 June
- Texas Conservation Action Plan comment period June 10-July 8 (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia
- Texas Conservation Action Plan comment period June 10-July 8 (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
- 5 June
- Interest grows in a brackish water source deep underground (Brad Meyer – Your Conroe News)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier
- Interest grows in a brackish water source deep underground (Brad Meyer – Your Conroe News)
- 2 June
- Clear Lake: We already pay a drainage fee (Chris Moran – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story - Texas Urges U.S. to Leave Gas Fracking Oversight to States (Joe Carroll – Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011
- Clear Lake: We already pay a drainage fee (Chris Moran – Houston Chronicle)