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March 2, 2015

Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region: March 3, 2015

Featured

  1. New website evaluates environmental impact of projects in State Water Plan; Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Ratings Given to Highlighted Projects (Environment Texas, 2/26/2015)
    “Environment Texas Research and Policy Center launched a new website today designed to help educate Texans about the environmental impacts of projects in the State Water Plan. The interactive website – www.OurTexasWater.org – allows Texans to view a map of the state and learn about highlighted projects in their community. The new website comes as the Texas Water Development Board considers the first round of applications for funding from the new water infrastructure fund approved by voters in November 2013.”
    www.environmenttexas.org
  2. Federal funding breathes life into Greens Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project (DVIDS, 2/25/2015)
    “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District and Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) will start work on the Greens Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project in north Harris County this year due to $8 million in start-up funding allocated in the federal fiscal year 2015 budget for the Corps’ Civil Works program… The Corps is the lead agency on the $55 million Greens Bayou project and expects to start construction later this year on the first phase of excavation of the stormwater detention basin located adjacent to Greens Bayou near Antoine Road and the Sam Houston Tollway. West Greens Drive bisects the basin, dividing it into two parts, but it will function as a single flood damage reduction feature. Stormwater detention basins help to reduce flooding damages by safely storing excess stormwater during heavy rain events and slowly releasing it back into the bayou as water levels recede.”
    www.dvidshub.net
  3. Efficiency is what Texas Can (and Should) Do Best (John Hall – EDF News, 2/25/2015)
    “I have been involved in Texas’ energy sector for a long time, particularly from an environmental perspective. I was there when the state’s metropolitan centers and their robust industrial sectors were challenged to reduce ozone-forming pollution. I was there when Texas deregulated its energy market to increase competition, improve choices for residents and businesses, and lower electricity prices. And now, I’m here to witness the state’s transition to a clean energy economy – one that harnesses more West Texas wind energy, rooftop solar, and natural gas (with the right controls in place) than any other time in history. The one thing that ties all of these events together is efficiency – something Texas has led in the past.”
    http://blogs.edf.org/texascleanairmatters

EcoNotes

  • 2 March
    • Storm leads to 1,000 canceled flights in Texas as more snow heads east (Mary Wisniewski – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
  • 27 February
    • Looking for a Silver Lining in Falling Oil Prices in Texas (Philip Issa – StateImpact)
      http://stateimpact.npr.org
    • Climate change opens new doors to deadly diseases (Tim Radford – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • Energy giant’s bleak outlook is 25 percent rise in CO2 (Alex Kirby – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • Dear readers, thanks for all the memories (Kathy Huber – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Welcome To Houston, Texas – Still America’s Economic Miracle (Christopher Helman – Forbes)
      www.forbes.com
    • Texas Reports Electronics Recycling Results (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
      www.tceq.state.tx.us
    • Google invests $300 million in U.S. residential solar projects (Nichola Groom – Planet Ark News)
      http://planetark.org
  • 26 February
    • New website evaluates environmental impact of projects in State Water Plan; Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Ratings Given to Highlighted Projects (Environment Texas)
      www.environmenttexas.org
    • The Secret Life of Bees: Using Big Data and Citizen Science to Unravel…What Bees Are Saying about the Environment (Jennifer Baljko – The Nature of Cities)
      www.thenatureofcities.com
    • Texas Bill Bans Sustainability Program, Based On A Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theory (Emily Atkin – Climate Progress)
      http://thinkprogress.org
    • Flood board to decide next week on ‘Big Oil’ lawsuit appeal (Fuel Fix)
      http://fuelfix.com
  • 25 February
  • 24 February
  • 23 February
  • 20 February
    • Harris County seeks new trial in pollution case (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
      www.chron.com
    • Reflections in windows put birds on alert (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
    • Regional Water Symposium to Discuss State Funding, Conservation Methods and Public Perception (The Paper)
      http://fatcatwebproductions.com
    • Arctic drilling plan would require backup rig (Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Washington Bureau – San Antonio Express News)
      www.expressnews.com
  • 19 February
    • Major ammonia plant confirmed for Freeport (Jordan Blum – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • NatureFest Nurtures Outdoor Awareness at Jones Park (The Paper)
      http://fatcatwebproductions.com
    • Despite rains, many Texas reservoirs lower this year than last (Blair Fannin, Texas A&M University Extension – AG Professional)
      www.agprofessional.com
    • TCU professor: Texas water supply can be maintained (Julia Sanders – The 109)
      www.the109.org
    • Texas Parks Hoping for a Funding Boost (Neena Satija – TRIB + Water)
      www.texastribune.org
    • Houston energy companies cut capital spending by 40 percent (Jordan Blum – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • BP expects OPEC to outpace U.S. shale (Jordan Blum – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
    • IRNR joins partnership to establish the Center for Private Land Stewardship (Conservation Matters)
      http://twri.tamu.edu
    • How drought-tolerant are Central Texas’ favorite landscape plants? (Kathy Wythe – Conservation Matters)
      http://twri.tamu.edu
  • 18 February
    • Dryers: Homes’ energy guzzlers just got greener (Katherine Roth – Houston Chronicle)
      www.chron.com
    • Five coming projects on the Katy Prairie (Leah Binkovitz)
      www.chron.com
    • Houston energy company risks NYSE delisting (Jordan Blum – Houston Business Journal)
      www.bizjournals.com
  • 17 February
    • More than 14,000 new trees are transforming a vital Houston park: $50-million-plus project’s uber green (Shelby Hodge – CultureMap Houston)
      http://houston.culturemap.com
    • Arctic melting opens sea route to more pollution (Alex Kirby – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • UH Students Revving Up for Shell Eco-Marathon (Jeannie Kever – University of Houston)
      www.uh.edu
  • 16 February
    • Recent UH Grad Named Forbes “30 Under 30” for Energy (Greg Ortiz – University of Houston)
      www.uh.edu
    • Climate, satellite gaps are risky business for feds (Brian Kahn – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
    • UCLA study: Social conscience is key to cutting household energy (Tim Radford – Texas Climate News)
      http://texasclimatenews.org
  • 13 February
    • Refinery neighbors hope to breathe easier after air pollution study (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
      www.houstonchronicle.com
  • 12 February
  • 10 February
  • 7 February
    • Study: High-Tech Tools Across Houston Are Letting More Residents Live Car-Free (Gail Delaughter – Houston Public Media)
      www.houstonpublicmedia.org
  • 5 February
    • HARC works with stakeholders to improve water quality in a scenic tributary of Galveston Bay (Stephanie Glenn – HARC News)
      www.harcresearch.org