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April 29, 2014

Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region: April 29, 2014

Features

  1. Legal Battle Begins Over Galveston Bay Oil Spill (David Pitman – Houston Public Media, 4/28/2014)
    The owner of the towboat and barge that leaked nearly 170,000 gallons of oil into Galveston Bay says the Liberian bulk carrier involved in the collision was “dangerous” and “unseaworthy”. In a federal court filing, Kirby Inland Marine says the bulk carrier, the Summer Wind, failed to take evasive action. Kirby is seeking damages in excess of $10 million.
    www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  2. Futuristic cars push limits of fuel efficiency in Shell Eco-marathon (Ryan Holeywell – Fuel Fix, 4/25/2014)
    For engineering students across the country, the Shell Eco-marathon contest is often the capstone of a year of hard work in a race that’s unlike others. In this contest, speed doesn’t count. Instead, the only thing that matters is fuel efficiency. Student-designed cars travel six miles through a circuit that loops around downtown’s Discovery Green park, competing to see who can use the least amount of fuel to travel that distance. Last year’s winner, a Quebec team, designed a vehicle that got 3,587 miles per gallon. Event organizers say the goal is to give students a venue for getting hands-on experience as part of an effort to encourage the next generation of workers in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
    http://fuelfix.com
  3. Skanska’s first Houston project takes home top honors in Green category (Houston Business Journal, 4/25/2014)
    One of the first new speculative Class A office buildings to be built in the Galleria area in 30 years, 3009 Post Oak was also Swedish firm Skanska’s U.S. arm’s first development in Houston. The 20-story, 302,000-square-foot office building is the area’s only to be LEED Platinum certified, which lowers operating costs through improved indoor air quality. Its state-of-the-art mechanical systems include an energy recovery unit, a demand controlled ventilation system and high-efficiency chillers, which result in overall energy savings of 25 percent or more.
    www.bizjournals.com
  4. Cypresswood Water Conservation Garden shows how to plant to save water (Kathy Huber – Houston Chronicle, 4/18/2014)
    Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Carol Fraser, instrumental in the certification process, understood that creating a real example of water conservation would be more effective than handing out brochures on the subject. The Cypresswood garden is also a certified wildlife habitat and a monarch butterfly way station, says Fraser, who’s counted about 15 butterfly species and a half-dozen native bee species in the area.
    www.houstonchronicle.com

EcoNotes

  • 28 April
    • Wincing at recent coffee prices? Prepare for a shock (Kieran Cooke – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • Blurred Lines: Texas-BLM Spat Has Complicated History (Jim Malewitz – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • The Brief: The Texas-BLM Conflict Explained (John Reynolds – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 25 April
    • Time magazine: Texas Tech scientist one of world’s “100 most influential people” (Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • Birds and butterflies light up the prairie (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Texas regulator says no controversy in cutting air quality funding (Jennifer Hiller – Fuel Fix)
      http://fuelfix.com
    • Futuristic cars push limits of fuel efficiency in Shell Eco-marathon (Ryan Holeywell – Fuel Fix)
      http://fuelfix.com
    • Citing ‘Mismanagement,’ Lawmaker Threatens Massive Overhaul of LCRA (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
      https://stateimpact.npr.org
    • Skanska’s first Houston project takes home top honors in Green category (Houston Business Journals)
    • www.bizjournals.com
    • Time magazine: Texas Tech scientist one of world’s “100 most influential people” (Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • A city divided: Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey reveals city residents split on transportation (Memorial Examiner)
      www.yourhoustonnews.com
    • In the Garden with Urban Harvest: Plant a diverse garden (Chris LaChance – Houston Chronicle)
      www.chron.com
    • Wildlife Society recognizes Texas A&M AgriLife publication, achievements (Conservation Matters)
      http://twri.tamu.edu
    • Claiming Threat To Renewable Fuel Standard, Agribusiness, Biofuels Makers Counterattack (Andrew Schneider – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
    • Bauer Business Focus: Charles McConnell On Oil And Energy Policy (Andrew Schneider – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  • 24 April
    • Legal Battle Begins Over Galveston Bay Oil Spill (David Pitman – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
    • What Does the Latest Klineberg Study Tell Us About Houston? (Michael Hagerty – Houston Matters)
      www.houstonmatters.org
    • Bayport dredging permit a step closer; Barbours Cut pending (The Pasadena Citizen)
      www.yourhoustonnews.com
    • Inaugural tour of Houston’s top historic preservation projects set for next month (Josh Mitelman – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • Colossal spider spotted in Hermann Park — and it’s a sight to see (Barbara Kuntz – Culture Map Houston)
      http://houston.culturemap.com
    • Sustainable Coffee on the Rise, But Harmful Methods More Prevalent (Shawna Reding – StateImpact)
      http://stateimpact.npr.org
    • Houston’s a great place to live and work, as long as you’re not stuck in traffic, Kinder Institute finds (Olivia Pulsinelli – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
  • 23 April
    • Intel remains No. 1 green power user; Apple jumps into top 10 (Kent Hoover – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • LCRA Draws Criticism Over Proposed Rate Increases (Neena Satija – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
    • $3 Million Awarded to North Texas Family in Fracking Lawsuit (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
      http://stateimpact.npr.org
    • Preparing for Climate Change with Vicki Arroyo (Earth Share)
      www.earthshare.org
    • Former Obama Administration Official Speaks Out On Keystone XL Delays (Andrew Schneider – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  • 22 April
  • 21 April
  • 20 April
  • 18 April
  • 17 April
    • Gulf Coast facilities put U.S. on track to make more than we need (Jennifer A. Dlouhy – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
  • 16 April
    • EPA could crack down on coal plants, rekindle capacity markets debate (Nicholas Sakelaris – Dallas Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
  • 15 April
    • Homeowner gets radical about saving, conserving water usage (Russell Ledbetter – The Courier of Montgomery County)
      www.yourhoustonnews.com
  • 14 April
    • Criticism of Water Policy Flows From Conservatives (Neena Satija – The Texas Tribune)
      www.texastribune.org
  • 2 April