ECONOTES 2011-09-21: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- It’s Time to Set Uniform Algae Feedstock Standards (Algae Industry Magazine, 09/21/2011)
Algae oil is gearing up to industrial scale production. Algae oil is a distinctive biofeedstock that generates abundant energy. Currently, multiple standards are being devised in order to enable blending, common refining, transportation and distribution. The trust and support of the public and regulators is important in the ability to achieve wide acceptance of industry standards for algae applications in just a few, critical years.
http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com
- MSUSA Announces Houston-Area Wetland Mitigation Credits Now Available (Market Watch, 09/21/2011)
MSUSA Wetland credits are now available for a seven-county service area, which includes Harris and Montgomery counties. These credits will help to offset the impacts that businesses have on wetlands or streams. By offering these credits, MSUSA is furthering resource and urban development, which is tied to strengthening the Houston economy, while mitigating the environmental impact.
http://www.marketwatch.com/ - Piranhas, other dangerous exotic species found in Texas’ waterways (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle, 09/27/2011)
A red-bellied piranha, a native of the Amazon basin, was found in the 23-acre lake in Tom Bass Park. The discovery of this piranha supports the suspicion that exotic species, which have the potential to do great harm to native fish and the ecosystems, are increasing in the area. The exotic species may outcompete, prey on or otherwise overwhelm native species.
http://www.chron.com/
EcoNotes
- 28 September
- U.S. To Do More Research On Electric Vehicles (Roberta Rampton – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Keystone pipeline Hearing Draws Supporters, Few Critics (Kristen Hays – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - 27 September
- Piranhas, other dangerous exotic species found in Texas’ waterways (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - UT opens Houston energy training center (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - City of Houston bike commuters increased 62% in 5 years (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Work begins on creating Cedar Bayou protection plan (Jane Howard Lee – The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/ - Galvestonians seeking to rebuild a healthier city (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - 290 commuter rail study shows less ridership than park & rides (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Texas Petroleum Investment Company Fined for a Second Time for Violating the Clean Water Act (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Can adversaries become partners to preserve Texas’ wild waterways? (Larry D. Hodge – Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine)
http://www.tpwmagazine.com/ - Dangerous wildfire conditions expected through the fall (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Adopt-A-Beach volunteers find the coast is pretty clear (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - 26 September
- Galveston discusses branding for new transit (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - House Passes Bill To Block EPA Clean Air Rules (Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - UT sustainability panel’s plan would cut campus energy use, boost renewables (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - Texas’ record drought damaging HISD buildings (Gabe Gutierrez – KHOU 11 News)
http://www.khou.com/ - EPA Settles Complaint Against Camterra Resources, Inc. for Violations of the Clean Water Act (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - HDHHS to use $3 million grant to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in homes (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - City of Houston and Compucycle add permanent recycling drop-off site (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - 25 September
- Drought & Water Today! (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - 23 September
- Houston adds electronics recycling centers (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - New garden designed to filter runoff (Christopher Smith Gonzalez – The Galveston County Daily News)
http://galvestondailynews.com/ - Red Tide Confirmed along Upper, Lower Texas Coast (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Big Government’s Endangering the State’s Economic Success Through Air, Water and Species Regulation (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Texas slow to prepare for future water needs (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – Google News)
http://www.google.com/ - EPA Goes With Bush-Era Smog Rule It Had Bashed (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Wind power companies lack strategies in place for disposal of aging turbines (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - FDA Bans CFCs In Some Inhalers From Next Year (Anna Yukhananov – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - 22 September
- ‘Lost Pines’ Experience Lives on at Buescher State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Challenges EPA’s Flawed Cross-State Air Pollution Rules (Attorney General of Texas)
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/ - Barton: Solyndra shouldn’t end solar loan guarantees (energyNOW)
http://www.energynow.com/ - Sand Mining Emerges As Another Fracking Threat (Anna Driver – Planet Ark)
http://planetark.org/ - Oil Mats After BP Spill Pose Long-Term Ecosystem Threat: Study (Kelli Dugan – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - 21 September
- It’s Time to Set Uniform Algae Feedstock Standards (Algae Industry Magazine)
http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com - MSUSA Announces Houston-Area Wetland Mitigation Credits Now Available (Market Watch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/ - Texas job loss due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - TCEQ approves fines totaling $302,602 (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/ - Texas Water Supplier Approves Emergency Drought Plan (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - Texas sues EPA over cross-state pollution rules (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
http://fuelfix.com/ - Senator: Drought, water should finally wake up Texans (Houston Chronicle)
http://blog.chron.com/ - Houston Parks and Recreation Department (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Spectra Energy tops carbon disclosure index (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - Drought could pose problems for Texas power plants, grid operator says (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - 20 September
- Texas A&M-Galveston Prof Gets $240,000 Grant For Artificial Reef (Guidry News)
http://guidrynews.com/