ECONOTES 2012-11-19: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

1. Sustainability is silver bullet for Texas coast (Chris O’Shea Roper and Tom Linton – The Daily News, 11/17/2012)
   A long-term vision is created to reverse coastal degradation and sustain our rich coastal resources. Restoration and protection projects create a level of resiliency in our communities that prevent further degradation of systems. Sustainability, then, requires all those with a vested interest in the health of the coast to sit at the same table.
   http://galvestondailynews.com/
2. New Houston Study Looks At Bus And Bike Commuting (Gail Delaughter – KUFH News, 11/08/2012)
   METRO says it’s seen about a 50 percent increase in the number of people who bring their bikes aboard buses. Alan Clark with the Houston-Galveston Area Council says they’re like to see those numbers grow, and they’re looking for ways to make bus-bike commuting more convenient.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/
3. Panelists say energy capital should consider alternatives (Zain Shauk – Houston Chronicle, 11/10/2012)
   Although innovations in oil and gas production have kept Houston as the energy capital of the world, major companies have not devoted significant resources toward alternative energy technology relative to their fossil fuel spending. That reflects an alignment of priorities that could leave Houston falling behind as future energy innovations potentially develop elsewhere.
   http://www.chron.com/

EcoNotes

• 19 November
  • With a little help, monarch joins migration (Vincent T. Davis and John MacCormack – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
  • The ‘Secret’ to Unlocking Renewable Energy in Texas? Battery Storage (Elizabeth Trovall – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 17 November
  • Sustainability is silver bullet for Texas coast (Chris O’Shea Roper and Tom Linton – The Daily News)
    http://galvestondailynews.com/
• 16 November
  • Rig Explosion Poses Little Environmental Threat (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  • EPA Partners with Universities to Reduce Food Waste (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/
  • What the Dust Bowl Can Teach Us About Climate Change (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
  • Alonso picked to head San Antonio Bay Foundation (The Port Lavaca Wave)
    http://portlavacawave.com/
• 15 November
  • Can’t see the forest for the trees? Now you can at www.texasforestinfo.com. (Texas A&M Forest Service)
    http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/
  • Hwy. 290, Beltway 8 interchange project set to begin early next year (John Rigg – Community Impact Newspaper)
    http://impactnews.com/
  • Obama sees second-term focus on climate change (Deborah Zabarenko – Planet Ark News)
    http://planetark.org/
  • EPA Launches “SepticSmart” to Prevent Costly Septic System Problems, Protect Environment (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/
  • BP Will Pay Record $4.5 Billion Settlement Over Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 14 November
  • Give Thanks for the Environment (EarthShare)
    http://www.earthshare.org/
  • Rice farmers likely to get water next year under agency plan (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
  • New Signs for Galveston Beaches! – Sea Turtle Restoration Project (Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/
  • LCRA Approves Emergency Water Plan, Less Stringent Than Last Year (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
    stateimpact.npr.org/
  • Even With LCRA Emergency Plan, Highland Lakes May Reach Historic Lows (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 13 November
  • Lower Colorado River Authority could withhold water from farmers for a 2nd year (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
  • Texas Plays at Collecting Fees from Ozone Polluters (Adrian Shelley – Air Alliance Houston)
    http://airalliancehouston.org/
  • How a Domestic Drilling Boom Could Lead to a Global Climate Bust (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 12 November
  • ‘Mount Rush Hour’ becomes a county park (Houston Chronicle)
    http://blog.chron.com/
  • Water and the Land: Where Texas Ag Goes From Here (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 11 November
  • Metro referendum a boon for buses, officials say (Dug Begley – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
• 10 November
  • Panelists say energy capital should consider alternatives (Zain Shauk – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
• 9 November
  • Texas Lawmakers Keep Pressing for Urgent Water Action (Kate Galbraith – Texas Weekly)
    http://www.texastribune.org/
  • Drought Conditions Making A Comeback To Houston (David Pitman – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  • EPA official hopeful on gas drilling study (Kevin Begos – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/
• 8 November
  • New Houston Study Looks At Bus And Bike Commuting (Gail Delaughter – KUFH News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  • The “D” word: It’s time to start talking drought again (Houston Chronicle)
    http://blog.chron.com/
  • Texas roads get a ‘D’ on report card, but other infrastructure scores better (Star-Telegram)
    http://blogs.star-telegram.com/
  • How ‘Landfarms’ For Disposing Drilling Waste Are Causing Problems In Texas (Dave Fehling – StateImpact)
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
• 6 November
  • Texas Soil and Water Conservation District concerned about landfills over recharge zones (Clyde Gottschalk – The Liberty County Vindicator)
    http://www.thevindicator.com/
• 5 November
  • Weekly Weather: This year no longer warmest on record (Houston Chronicle)
    http://blog.chron.com/