ECONOTES 2012-02-20: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- Will Electric Cars Strain the Texas Grid? (Terrence Henry – StateImpact, 02/15/2012)
Electric vehicles are becoming more appealing as gas prices rise. However, a rising number of electric vehicles will increase the energy demand on an already-strained electric grid in Texas. This reliance on power plants means that although the cars have fewer emissions, they are still using fossil fuel energy.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Drought’s toll on Texas’ urban forest: Up to 5.6 million trees and counting (Texas Climate News, 02/16/2012)
Last year’s record-setting drought has killed about 5.6 million trees across Texas according to a study of before-and-after satellite imagery. Researchers believe that this count will continue to rise as many trees continue to be affected. Up to a tenth of trees in Texas cities and towns have already been lost.
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - Flood Control District Backs Off Charting Buffalo (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News, 02/17/2012)
Charting Buffalo is a project designed to add detention basins to flood-prone areas along Buffalo Bayou. The ideas for the project were revealed to the public recently and drew sharp criticism. Because of the public’s strong reaction, the report was pulled after the first meeting. The remaining meetings were suspended while the project is further reviewed.
http://app1.kuhf.org/
EcoNotes
- 20 February
- How Wind Energy Can Power Desalination in Texas (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - The Pipeline vs. the Farmer: What Happens Next for Keystone XL in Texas (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - 18 February
- Keystone Pipeline Sparks Property Rights Backlash (Jay Root – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - 17 February
- Reading Beyond the Headlines: Fracking and Water Contamination (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Flood Control District Backs Off Charting Buffalo (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - U.S. Leads Low-Cost Bid To Curb Global Warming Pollutants (Valerie Volcovici – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Prosecuting the Keystone XL Pipeline: Enviromentalists’ Concerns (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Defending the Keystone XL Pipeline: Company Speaks Out (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Texas Drought Sparks Water Well Drilling Frenzy (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - 16 February
- Drought’s toll on Texas’ urban forest: Up to 5.6 million trees and counting (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - Study: Fracturing no threat to groundwater (Vicki Vaughan – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Your Weekly Drought Update: Improved, But Far From Over (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - First place team plants 100 trees in 20 minutes at 2012 Arbor Day Tree Planting Competition (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Keystone XL Company Goes to Court Against Farmer (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - EPA Issues Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - 15 February
- Will Electric Cars Strain the Texas Grid? (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Planning for Billion-Dollar Austin-Houston Rail Line Under Way (Erika Aguilar – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - Oyster Creek Trail expands (Sara Glafcke – Ultimate Fort Bend)
http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/ - Drought takes toll on urban forest, millions of shade trees dead (Texas Forest Service)
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/ - 14 February
- EPA sets new rules for emissions from PVC production (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Texans still love computer recycling (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/ - Will Texas Have Enough Water Tomorrow? (State Rep. Raul Torres – Texas Insider)
http://www.texasinsider.org/ - Could Other Texas Towns Run Dry Like Spicewood Beach? (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - 13 February
- Higher Education – Changing Ocean Currents (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - 9 February
- Texas House committee examines state’s electric capacity (Matt Dietrichson – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - 8 February
- Texas Comptroller’s Report Assesses Drought’s Impact (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
http://www.texastribune.org/ - Texans consider native landscaping (Matt Dietrichson – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - 1 February
- USDA Announces CRP General Sign-up – Landowners and Producers Will Have 4-Week Window Beginning in March to Enroll (USDA News)
http://www.usda.gov/ - d