Submitted by Matt Johnson on
People throughout Texas are supportive of reducing water use through water conservation and drought contingency measures – due in large part to Texas’ growing population and crippling drought. The big question that gets asked is how can a water utility sustain itself if it encourages its customers to use less of its product?
[Original post: Dallas Morning News, Brandon Formby] Oct 22, 2014
Texans got their first glimpses Tuesday of the potential routes a proposed bullet train could take from Dallas to Houston. The 240-mile project, which could be the first high-speed rail line in America, is expected to get people between the two cities in 90 minutes. If funding is secured and federal approval granted, the train could be running by 2021.
[Original story: Stephen Lacey, Greentech Media] Oct. 20, 2014
After two controversial attempts to change net metering policy in San Antonio, CPS Energy, the utility serving the city, thinks it has found a new incentive model for solar that local installers can support.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
Today, passing on consent, Austin City Council directed Austin Energy to immediately begin negotiations with the Lower Colorado River Authority for better operational control of Austin’s share of the coal-fired Fayette Power Project, the fifth largest emitter of climate-disrupting carbon dioxide pollution in the entire state of Texas.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
As the next legislative session approaches, the battle lines of agency budgets are being drawn by the Legislative Budget Board. Each agency submits a Legislation Appropriations Request, or LAR, which asks the Legislature for funding for 2016-2017. The Lone Star Chapter recently submitted comments supporting specific funding for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for local park grants, wildlife diversity, park acquisition and development and invasive species control.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
The Galveston Bay Foundation and Houston Advanced Research Center are seeking the public's help in developing a report card about the health of Galveston Bay, scheduled to be released in early 2015. Everyone who lives near, uses, or simply has an interest in Galveston Bay is encouraged to visit www.galvbay.org/reportcard to take an important survey, submit comments about issues concerning bay health, and learn more about the project.
Submitted by Matt Johnson on
From Texas Parks & WIldlife, an incredibly clever convergence of Halloween and learning about nature! Looks like it continues throughout the month too! [TPWD] Have you wondered about your abilities to live in the wild, such as after an apocalyptic event? Well, we’re going to talk about the basic skills needed to find food, water, shelter, and space in our short (somewhat humorous) program. We’ll begin at the Nature Center and travel to find the necessary items for survival. Then, we’ll discuss the importance of plants and human uses of the area. Finally, we'll test your skills to survive a zombie apocalypse.
