ECONOTES 2013-04-22: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- $3 Million Federal Grant Fueling Texas A&M Chemist’s Dream for Cheaper Natural Gas Cars (Guidry News, 4/16/13)
When it comes to American consumers’ vehicular preferences, Texas A&M University chemist Hongcai Joe Zhou says the choice often boils down to simple economics more so than availability, environment or altruism. Zhou says a more cost-efficient system will be necessary to drive a nationwide shift from petroleum to cleaner-burning fuels. Zhou’s goal is to solve the technical hurdles related to natural gas storage — answers that bode well for sectors ranging from energy and economics to global relations and preservation.
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - New polls: Most accept scientific view that Earth’s climate is changing (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News, 4/17/13)
Recent opinion surveys continue to find broad public acceptance of the mainstream scientific view that the climate is changing. Those new polls revealed majorities taking climate change seriously and favoring responses to mitigate and adapt to it. There was also some ambiguity, however, in the combined picture that emerged from the surveys regarding views on the seriousness of the threats that climate change poses and what should be done about it.
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - EPA Announces U.S. Organizations Using the Most Green Power (EPA News, 4/17/13)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Green Power Partnership released an updated list of the Top 50 organizations that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources. These organizations help reduce carbon pollution and spur growth of clean, American-made energy sources by increasing their use of renewable energy. The City of Houston is #13 on the list. The Monarch School was recognized for long-term purchases of green energy. Four companies in the region were recognized as 100% green energy users: Accredo Packaging, Jacob White Construction Co., Discovery Green Conservancy, and Nicholas Earth Printing.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/
EcoNotes
- 22 April
- Supreme Court asked to hear EPA greenhouse gas challenge (Valerie Volcovici – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/ - Before Texas plant exploded: What did regulators know? (Anna Driver and Joshua Schneyer – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/
- Supreme Court asked to hear EPA greenhouse gas challenge (Valerie Volcovici – Planet Ark News)
- 19 April
- Fertilizer explosions rare, but often deadly (Matthew Tresaugue and Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/ - EPA Proposes to Reduce Toxic Pollutants Discharged into Waterways by Power Plants (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/
- Fertilizer explosions rare, but often deadly (Matthew Tresaugue and Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
- 18 April
- H-GAC puts hold on Uptown BRT funding (David Crossley – Houston Tomorow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - Information from TCEQ on West Incident (TCEQ News)
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/ - Texas Investigated West Fertilizer Plant in 2006 (Olivia Gordon – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Powerful Explosion Rattles Small Town of West, Texas (Updated) (Wells Dunbar and Matt Largey – KUT News)
http://m.kutnews.org/ - West blast follows years of state, federal agencies overlooking danger potential (Randy Lee Loftis – The Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/ - LNG Conference Spotlights Transition From Importing To Exporting Natural Gas (Ed Mayberry – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - When Energy Goes Hollywood: A Conversation With Michael Webber (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Regional Lone Star Land Steward Awards Honor Texas Conservationists (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
- H-GAC puts hold on Uptown BRT funding (David Crossley – Houston Tomorow)
- 17 April
- Brazoria County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force Partners with DEA for National Prescription Drug Take Back (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - New polls: Most accept scientific view that Earth’s climate is changing (Bill Dawson – Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/ - He said, she said: Energy Future Holdings joins a flame war with the Sierra Club over Texas air pollution (Randy Lee Loftis – The Dallas Morning News)
http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/ - Colorado River ranks most endangered by advocacy group (Bruce Finley – The Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/ - Definition of ‘Brackish’ Stirs Debate at the Capitol (Olivia Gordon – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Landowners and Pipelines Look to Legislature for Eminent Domain Reform (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - EPA Announces U.S. Organizations Using the Most Green Power (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/
- Brazoria County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force Partners with DEA for National Prescription Drug Take Back (Guidry News)
- 16 April
- Are Houston Streets Safe? ‘Walkability Audit’ To Determine Sidewalk Safety (Pat Hernandez – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - GHP transit group votes to support Uptown BRT project (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
http://www.houstontomorrow.org/ - $3 Million Federal Grant Fueling Texas A&M Chemist’s Dream for Cheaper Natural Gas Cars (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Groundbreaking planned for detention pond and park at former Brandywood site (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/ - Willis wins wastewater treatment plant award (Howard Roden – The Courier of Montgomery County)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/ - Raindrops May Be Falling on Your House, But You Still Can’t Drink Them (David Barer – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - As Water Plan Legislation Gets Closer to Reality, Little Opposition Found (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Bill Would Stop Private Lawyers Who Help Counties Sue For Pollution (Dave Fehling – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - AZA Grants Accreditation to Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid and Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid (Guidry News)
http://www.guidrynews.com/
- Are Houston Streets Safe? ‘Walkability Audit’ To Determine Sidewalk Safety (Pat Hernandez – KUHF News)
- 15 April
- Relief for a Parched Delta (The New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/ - What to Watch For at the Texas Legislature This Week (David Barer – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Report Shows Texas Counties Where Fracking and Water Needs Collide (Olivia Gordon – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Dallas Teen Honored with President’s Environmental Youth Award (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - Texas Army National Guard Recognized in Federal Green Challenge (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - EPA Recognizes the NASA Johnson Space Center for Significant Improvements in Solid Waste Efforts (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - EPA Publishes 18th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ - EPA Recognizes Federal Aviation Administration in Fort Worth for Purchasing More Environmentally Preferable Equipment (EPA News)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/
- Relief for a Parched Delta (The New York Times)
- 10 April
- Electric car sales bill is ‘life or death’ for us, Tesla CEO says (James Jeffrey – Austin Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/ - Bill would send rice farms to back of line for water (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/
- Electric car sales bill is ‘life or death’ for us, Tesla CEO says (James Jeffrey – Austin Business Journal)
- 7 April
- Scrutiny for state’s water board (My SA News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/
- Scrutiny for state’s water board (My SA News)
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