ECONOTES 2011-10-05: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- In new stance, water board advises on planning for risks of climate change (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News, 09/27/2011)
This year, the State Water Plan includes a detailed discussion of manmade climate change. The current drought has put more pressure on the Water Development Board to address projected water shortages. The plan recommends 562 supply projects to meet extra needs during a drought, which would cumulatively provide 9.0 million acre-feet of water by 2060 – about eight percent more than the projected shortfall.
http://texasclimatenews.org - Environment Enhanced Learning at the Monarch School (Vicki Wolf – Clean, 09/30/2011)
The Monarch School uses the outdoor environment to provide a place to learn, relax, and gain composure for individuals, age 3 to 29, with neurological differences. Nature provides a place to be physically active for students who have difficulty sitting still indoors. The students have planted more than 100 trees, as well as vegetable and flower gardens. They have observed birds nesting and participated in installing three bee hives. Even indoors, students are encouraged to be environmentally conscious. In math class, students monitor peaks and valleys of energy consumption throughout the day.
http://www.cleanhouston.org/ - Public Housing Development Goes Green to the Max (Ned Hibberd – My FOX Houston, 9/26/2011)
Cypresswood Estates, a north Harris County public housing development for seniors, has achieved LEED Platinum certification. LEED Platinum is the highest possible certification for energy efficiency. Some of the development’s green features include thick insulation that saves electricity, solar panels that power six electric vehicle charging stations on the property, and a hidden storage tank that conserves water. Developers say Cypresswood Estates is the only complex of its kind in America.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/
EcoNotes
- 4 October
- Editorial: Water plan needs money to match planning (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - After the fire: Assessing pine tree damage in Bastrop County (Texas Forest Service)
http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/ - Local, area fishing spots highlighted in weekly report (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/ - 3 October
- Drought Killing At Least Half Of Memorial Park Trees (Jack Williams – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - 30 September
- Environment Enhanced Learning at the Monarch School (Vicki Wolf – Clean)
http://www.cleanhouston.org/ - Help restore coastal prairies (The Baytown Sun)
http://baytownsun.com/ - EPA Launches New Mapping Tool to Improve Public Access to Enforcement Information (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Grim Predictions Say 9 More Years Of Texas Drought Possible (Jim Forsyth – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Brian Yeoman: In hyperdrive on global initiative for the planet (Vicki Wolf – Clean)
http://www.cleanhouston.org/ - 29 September
- In new stance, water board advises on planning for risks of climate change (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org - Texas Drought Could Last Until 2020, Says Texas A&M Expert (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - City of Austin Switch To Green Energy To Cost $6 Million Over 10 Years (Nathan Bernier – KUT News)
http://www.kutnews.org/ - The Trust for Public Land praises decision to create new refuge (The Trust for Public Land News)
http://www.tpl.org/news/ - America’s WETLAND Forum Gets Early Look at Gulf Report to President (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - 28 September
- Jeremy Rifkin on San Antonio, the European Union, and the lessons learned in our push for a planetary-scale power shift (Greg Harman – The San Antonio Current)
http://sacurrent.com/news/ - High Water: New Harris County Flood Mapping Tool Debuts (KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Proposed Canada-to-Texas pipeline draws praise, ire at hearing (Farzad Mashhood – The Statesman)
http://www.statesman.com/ - Appeals court upholds beach act challenge (Harvey Rice – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/ - Trident Seafoods Corp. to Pay $2.5 Million to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations and Spend More Than $30 Million to Upgrade Processing Plants (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Fall Means Fishing, Camping in Texas State Parks (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ - 27 September
- NRG’s Texas coal plants able to meet new air rule (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/ - Feds give $450 million to Texas clean energy plant (My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/ - Businesses Asked To Help Employees Who Bike To Work (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Report: Barnett Shale added $65.4 billion to regional economy in a decade (Jack Z. Smith – Star-Telegram)
http://www.star-telegram.com/ - 26 September
- Public Housing Development Goes Green to the Max (Ned Hibberd – My FOX Houston)
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/ - 25 September
- Perry’s climate views take heat (Josh Baugh – My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/